Alternating unilateral lachrymation

• Published in: The American journal of clinical hypnosis Vol. 34; no. 4; p. 255
• Main Authors: LePage, K E, Schafer, D W, Miller, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-04-1992
• Subjects: Crying - psychology; Dissociative Disorders - etiology; Dissociative Disorders - psychology; Dissociative Disorders - therapy; Female; Functional Laterality; Health Status; Humans; Hypnosis; Lacrimal Apparatus - secretion; Middle Aged; Personality Disorders - diagnosis; Personality Disorders - psychology; Personality Disorders - therapy; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychophysiologic Disorders - therapy; Psychotherapy; Regression (Psychology)
• ISSN: 0002-9157
• DOI: 10.1080/00029157.1992.10402855

A 56-year-old woman displayed a condition of alternating unilateral lachrymation while she was undergoing psychotherapy. Although she was aware of this condition only since her marriage, hypnotic age regression revealed its existence in childhood, together with mutism and a catatonic trance-like state. Further investigation revealed the connection of this symptom with her family constellation and the reappearance of the unilateral crying as an adult. In this paper we review the neurophysiology of lachrymation, discuss the hypnosis sessions, discuss the symptom as a psychosomatic condition and as a dissociative phenomenon, and present a case report of her background.