The interrupt distraction procedure: A brief hypnotic intervention for belief change and diminishing distress

The Interrupt Distraction Procedure (IDP) is a brief therapeutic technique for cognitive and emotional change. It is comprised of a hypnotic induction , several 20-sec iterations during which the person concentrates on distres sing thoughts or imagery or a thought they would like to believe, as well a s on a neutral distracting image. It is simple to administer for clinicians familiar with ether hypnotic techniques. IDP is useful when a change in be liefs is desired by a client, but some internal process is preventing such a change, and it lessens concomitant distress. It appears to be a simple th erapeutic intervention that decreases emotional reactions that accompany ce rtain thoughts or imagery providing some alleviation of symptoms in somatof orm, mood and anxiety disorders.