Positive affect, negative affect, and negative effects during a phenomenological hypnotic assessment

Positive and negative affect generated while using the Phenomenology of Consciousness--Hypnotic Assessment Procedure (PCI-HAP) on a sample of drug and alcohol users were predicted using several variables. The results were then cross-validated on a second, smaller sample. The results suggest that, although some negative affect was reported, the PCI-HAP was more likely to generate positive, rather than negative, affect. Positive affect was related to the vividness of a suggested hypnotic dream during hypnosis and also hypnotic depth; these findings were replicated upon cross-validation. Although negative affect correlated with the Dissociative Experiences Scale scores and falling asleep, these results did not replicate upon cross-validation. Mild transient negative effects (e.g., headache) were reported by about 10% of the participants in a smaller, second sample. Implications of the results are discussed.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2009 Jan;57(1):64-93. Pekala RJ, Kumar VK, Maurer RL Sr, Elliott-Carter N, Moon E, Mullen K. Coatesville Veterans Administration Medical Center, Coatesville, Pennsylvania 19380-2765, USA. Ronald.Pekala@med.va.gov