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Biomedical subjects

R J Pekala

Publications and source records attributed to R J Pekala.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Operationalizing "trance". I: Rationale and research using a psychophenomenological approach.

Despite the popularity of the term "trance" among clinicians to describe the subjective effects associated with being hypnotized, heretofore there has been no means to operationalize that definition. The authors present a rationale and psychophenomenological method to operationalize the term "trance" in terms of (a) hypnotic depth, a quantitative measure of subjective trance assessed via a pHGS (predicted Harvard Group Scale) score, derived from regression analysis, and (b) "trance typology profiles," a qualitative differentiation of empirically derived (via cluster and discriminant analyses) categories of subjective trance experiences. The authors then discuss theoretical and clinical implications of this psychophenomenological approach for developing an operational definition of the concept of trance.

Consciousness↗
PubMed1999

State and trait depression, physical and social anhedonia, hypnotizability and subjective experiences during hypnosis.

This study (n = 465) examined if (a) hypnotic susceptibility (assessed by the Harvard Group Scale, Form A) was related to state and trait depression, and physical and social anhedonia, and (b) phenomenological experiences (assessed by the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory [PCI]) varied with depression, anhedonia,and hypnotizability during hypnosis, compared with a sitting quietly condition. Only physical anhedonia showed a weak, but significant, negative correlation with hypnotizability. Hypnosis, compared with the sitting quietly condition, facilitated lowering of feelings of sadness especially for the chronically depressed. Other results pertaining to phenomenological experiences suggest that in future studies, instead of only correlating individual difference variables with hypnotizability, it may be more fruitful to explore their relationships with what happens during hypnosis in terms of reported phenomenological experiences.

Depression↗
PubMed1997

Types of hypnotically (un)susceptible individuals as a function of phenomenological experience: towards a typology of hypnotic types.

Subjects were 194 nursing students who experienced the HGSHS A (Shor & Orne, 1962) in which was embedded a 2-minute sitting quietly interval subsequent to the eye catalepsy item, but prior to the "counting out" sequence. After the HGSHS:A, subjects completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) (Pekala, 1982, 1991c) in reference to the sitting quietly interval embedded in the hypnotic induction ceremony. Subjects were divided into low and high susceptible groups. K-means cluster analysis of the subjects' responses to the PCI revealed nine different cluster groups. These groups had different patterns of phenomenological experiences that cut across individual subjects' actual HGSHS:A scores. Implications of the above for (a) working with clients who may not score that high on standard behavioral measures of hypnotizability (such as the HGSHS:A), or (b) understanding how hypnosis "works," are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Phenomenological experience in response to monotonous drumming and hypnotizability.

Participants (N = 206) experienced 15-min of monotonous drumming either before or after hypnosis (Harvard scale). Participants completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) in reference to the last 4-min of drumming. Stimulus order did not affect the objective trance levels as measured by the Harvard scores. The subjective trance level as measured by hypnoidal scores (predicted Harvard scores from the PCI) was significantly higher when drumming preceded hypnosis. Participants' estimated average trance level achieved during drumming fell in the medium range of susceptibility (5-8) (Pekala, 1995). Participants who achieved higher hypnoidal and Harvard scores were more likely to report relaxed feelings and shamanic-type experiences in narratives about their subjective experiences during drumming.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Behavioral and subjective scoring of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility: further data and an extension.

The present study replicated and extended Kirsch, Council, and Wickless's work evaluating the reliability and concurrent validity of a subjective response scale developed for the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Consistent with Kirsch et al.'s findings, the subjective counterpart of the Harvard scale demonstrated high reliability (coefficient .90) and concurrent validity (r = .84 with Harvard's standard behavioral score). Similar correlations of the behavioral and subjective scales with the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) and Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) suggested that the two hypnotizability scales are measuring similar constructs. However, using the two scales in combination did not yield a morestringent measure of hypnotizability in terms of DES and PCI variables than using either of them alone.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Trait factors, state effects, and hypnotizability.

This study examined the relationship of 15 trait (e.g., absorption, ego-permissiveness) and 21 phenomenological variables (assessed by the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory) with performance on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A. Factor analyses suggested three trait factors (absorption-permissiveness, general sensation seeking, and social desirability) and five state factors (dissociated control state, positive affect, negative affect, attention to internal processes, and visual imagery). The factors correlated to hypnotizability were absorption-permissiveness, dissociated control, positive affect, and attention to internal processes. In predicting hypnotizability, the amount of variance accounted for by the trait factors was approximately 9%; an additional 22% was accounted for by state factors. The interactions did not account for any additional variance in predicting hypnotizability.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A short, unobtrusive hypnotic-assessment procedure for assessing hypnotizability level: I. Development and research.

In the present study we assessed a short-form hypnotic-induction procedure for determining hypnotic susceptibility. Eighty-four subjects completed a short hypnotic-induction procedure and afterwards completed two self-report phenomenological state instruments (the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory, PCI, Pekala, 1982, 1991c and the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory: Short Form, PCI:SF, Pekala, 1988) in reference to a sitting-quietly period embedded within the hypnotic-induction procedure. A week later the same subjects completed the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility (Shor & Orne, 1962) and the PCI in reference to a short, sitting-quietly interval embedded in the Harvard. Using a regression equation obtained from prior research (Pekala & Kumar, 1987), a Pearson r correlation of .51 was obtained between a predicted Harvard Group Scale (pHGS) score from subjects' subjective experiences of the first hypnotic-induction procedure and subjects' actual performances on the Harvard Scale. These results suggest the usefulness of using a 20-minute hypnotic-assessment procedure with a self-report instrument like the PCI to measure a client's hypnotic susceptibility.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A short unobtrusive hypnotic induction for assessing hypnotizability: II. Clinical case reports.

Three clinical cases illustrating the use of a brief hypnotic-assessment procedure (HAP) utilizing the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) (Pekala, 1982, 1991c) are presented. The PCI-HAP consists of a 20-minute induction procedure, a short debriefing interview, and completion of the PCI by the client after the session. The procedure allows for the assessment of a client's hypnotizability level in a manner that is relatively unobtrusive and that generates phenomenological data to begin to help tailor a hypnotic intervention to the client. The use of the PCI-HAP for the three cases reviewed suggests that it can provide useful information about a client's hypnotizability level that I find helpful in treating the client in a private-practice setting.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1993

Psychophysiological effects of several stress management techniques.

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychophysiological stress-reducing properties of progressive relaxation compared with hypnosis, and deep abdominal breathing compared with a baseline condition, while controlling for hypnotizability. 231 nursing students experienced the baseline procedure and progressive relaxation in Session 1 and deep abdominal breathing and hypnosis in Session 2 about a week later. Before and after each technique peripheral skin temperature and pulse rate were assessed. Separate analyses of variance, computed for the first and second sets of techniques, indicated that progressive relaxation and hypnosis both increased skin temperature and reduced pulse rate, suggesting reduced psychophysiological responsivity. Deep abdominal breathing was associated with a significant reduction in physiological responsivity (skin temperature) relative to baseline. Hypnotic susceptibility had no effect on the psychophysiological measures.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

Predicting hypnotic susceptibility via a phenomenological approach.

The hypnotic susceptibility of 300 nursing students was predicted via an instrument called the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory. The students experienced the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility and subsequently completed the self-report inventory with reference to their experience of hypnosis. Regression analyses generated a multiple R of .67 between subjects' susceptibility, as measured by the Harvard scale, and their predicted susceptibility, based on the (sub)dimensions of the inventory. Additional analyses gave a validity coefficient of .61 between the Harvard scale scores of the subjects in the present study and their predicted scores, using regression coefficients obtained in an earlier study. The results replicated previous research and suggest that the inventory may be a useful instrument in predicting hypnotic susceptibility in a less obtrusive fashion than the Harvard scale.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Subjective effects of several stress management strategies: with reference to attention.

This study assessed variations in reported attentional experience associated with several stress management techniques (hypnosis, progressive relaxation, deep abdominal breathing) and baseline (eyes closed) as a function of hypnotic susceptibility. Three hundred nursing students experienced the stress management conditions and afterward completed a self-report inventory, the Dimensions of Attention Questionnaire (DAQ), in reference to each condition. The DAQ quantifies 12 aspects of attentional experience in a reliable and valid manner. The results demonstrated that progressive relaxation, hypnosis, and deep abdominal breathing are characterized by differences in reported attentional experience that are further moderated by an individual's hypnotic susceptibility. The clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Arousal↗
PubMed1989

The assessment of hypnoidal states: rationale and clinical application.

We used a self-report questionnaire, the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), to generate predicted Harvard Group Scale (pHGS) scores that we can use to estimate the hypnoidal state of a person. Using a case-study approach, we used the PCI to generate pHGS scores with two patients referred to a biofeedback clinic for specific problems. The results suggest that the PCI may present a useful means to assess the hypnoidal state (associated with a given stimulus condition) that a person experiences.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Individual differences in phenomenological experience: states of consciousness as a function of absorption.

State manifestations of the trait of absorption--a trait associated with differential responsivity to hypnosis, meditation, marijuana intoxification, and electromyograph (EMG) biofeedback--were assessed to determine (a) if absorption correlates with various (sub)dimensions of phenomenological experience, and (b) if individuals of differing absorption ability experience different states of consciousness. In two experiments 249 and 304 participants completed Tellegen's absorption scale and experienced several stimulus conditions. Each condition's phenomenological state was assessed by means of a retrospective self-report questionnaire and quantified in terms of intensity and pattern parameters. The results indicated that absorption correlated with increased and more vivid imagery, inward and absorbed attention, and positive affect; decreased self-awareness; and increased alterations in state of consciousness and various aspects of subjective experience. In addition, individuals of high absorption ability, relative to lows, experienced a different state of consciousness during ordinary, waking consciousness that became an altered state with eye closure and an hypnoticlike induction. The usefulness of the results for understanding altered-state induced procedures such as hypnosis is discussed.

Attention↗