Prevalence of visual snow and relation to attentional absorption

Visual snow is a condition of unclear prevalence characterized by tiny flickering dots throughout the entire visual field. It appears to result from visual cortex hyperactivity and possibly correlates with propensity to be engrossed in sensory and imaginary experiences (absorption). The prevalence and correlates of visual snow, and emotional reactions to it, were explored in the general Portuguese population with three studies with online surveys. In Study 1, 564 participants were shown an animated graphic simulation of visual snow and asked to rate how frequently they see it on a scale anchored by 0% and 100% of the time. They also reported their degree of distress and fascination resulting from visual snow. Absorption was measured with the Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale. 44% of respondents reported they see visual snow at least 10% of the time, and 20% reported seeing it between 80% and 100% of the time. Similar to findings in clinical samples, the frequency of visual snow correlated with tinnitus frequency, migraine, and entoptic phenomena, but not with ophthalmologic problems. It was confirmed that visual snow is related to absorption. Although distress caused by visual snow was generally absent or minimal, a substantial minority (28%) reported moderate to high levels of distress. High fascination with visual snow was reported by 9%. In Studies 2 and 3, visual snow was measured by means of verbal descriptions without graphic simulation (“visual field full of tiny dots of light” and “world seen with many dots of light”, respectively). The results were similar to those in Study 1, but seeing visual snow 80%-100% of the time was less frequent (6.5% in Study 2 and 3.6% in Study 3). Visual snow has been insufficiently investigated. More research is needed to uncover underlying neurophysiological mechanisms and psychological and behavioral correlates.

A quantitative exploration of the relationships between regular yoga practice, microdosing psychedelics, wellbeing and personality variables

Objective: The current study aimed to explore whether the subjective effects of microdosing psychedelics are comparable to those of yoga in relation to psychological wellbeing, depression, anxiety and stress. It also aimed to explore the relationship between yoga, microdosing and personality variables including neuroticism, openness and absorption.Method: The sample comprised 339 participants, yoga (n = 131), microdose (n = 69), microdose and yoga (n = 54) and control (n = 85). All completed an online survey concerning personality (M5-50 and Tellegen Absorption Scale), mood (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21) and wellbeing (Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing).Results: The yoga and microdosing groups scored significantly higher on psychological wellbeing and absorption than did control. The microdosing and yoga group had lower depression scores than the microdose only group, and lower anxiety scores than the yoga only group. Furthermore, the microdosing and yoga group had the highest absorption score. Openness was significantly lower in the control group than in all other groups.Conclusions: While we cannot infer that yoga and microdosing leads to increased wellbeing, openness and absorption, or to decreased depression and anxiety, the findings suggest that the subjective effects of microdosing psychedelics are comparable to those of yoga and that the combination of both might be beneficial.

Effectiveness of Hypnosis Techniques to Quit Smoking

Background: The main reason for carrying out this study was to realize that tobacco addicted are more than their beliefs, family, social life, religion, profession, and paradigms. Aim: The objective of this project was to help patients quit smoking through hypnosis techniques and, consequently, to help them face quitting methods more comfortably and safely and also avoid relapse. Methods: This project started with a biographical questionnaire, identification of smoker phases and some suggestion hypnotics are also evaluated through classic tests (vigils suggestions) and the Tellegen Absorption Scale. After collecting the data, we proceeded to an intervention plan that in synthesis had the following phases: sessions 3 and 4 aimed at obtaining a hypnotic trance with sufficient stability and depth, we value the state achieved as a medium-deep trance and spontaneous hypnotic phenomena. The next sessions, 5 and 6, we apply as ego strengthening and suggestions to demystify previously recorded thoughts, feelings and, consequently, behavior. Sessions 7 we explain the concept and importance of self-hypnosis. Results: The quantitative results will be presented here to show the effectiveness of the project developed. The most important information is the number of people who interrupted tobacco dependence: 16 (80%) out of 20 quit smoking, of which 10 (50%) were men and 10 (50%) were women. Four patients (20%) did not complete the treatment, 2 men and 2 women. Conclusion: It was possible to verify that quitting smoking through hypnosis is effective, because the smokers can transform their cognitive system and, thereby, they can change, naturally, their biopsychological paradigms in all contexts of their lives.

Factores de personalidad, perceptuales y cognitivas asociadas con las experiencias anómalo/paranormales en personal de enfermería

Introducción: Un número de experiencias paranormales aparecen relatadas por enfermeros que consisten en visiones del lecho de muerte y otros fenómenos anómalos. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el grado de ocurrencia de ciertas experiencias perceptuales inusuales en entornos hospitalarios, las denominadas Experiencias Anómalo/Paranormales con frecuencia reportadas por médicos y enfermeras en el ámbito hospitalario. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal y analítico. Se administraron cinco escalas, Encuesta de Experiencias Anómalo/Paranormales para Enfermeras, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Tellegen Absorption Scale, Inventario Oxford-Liverpool de Sentimientos y Experiencias, y Test de Empatía Cognitivo Afectiva a 344 enfermeros de 36 hospitales y centros de salud de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Resultados: Las experiencias más comunes de las enfermeras son: sensación de presencia y/o apariciones, oír ruidos, voces o diálogos, llantos o quejas, experiencias intuitivas y extrasensoriales en relación con sus pacientes, o bien la recepción de esas experiencias por parte de sus propios pacientes, tales como experiencias cercanas a la muerte, prácticas de oración o intervenciones religiosas con sanaciones espontáneas, y otras experiencias anómalas relacionadas con niños. Discusión: Las enfermeras con experiencias también tendieron a mayor absorción, lo cual se confirmó; una tendencia a la esquizotipia y mayor empatía cognitiva y comprensión emocional que en enfermeras sin experiencias. Conclusiones: Aunque no se confirmó la hipótesis según la cual, enfermeras con experiencias tienden a experimentar mayor estrés laboral, sin embargo se encontró que las enfermeras con experiencias obtuvieron una puntuación más alta en el factor Despersonalización que las enfermeras sin experienciasCómo citar este artículo: Parra A. Factores de personalidad, perceptuales y cognitivas asociadas con las experiencias anómalo/paranormales en personal de enfermería. Rev Cuid. 2017; 8(3): 1733-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.v8i3.408

Relación entre estrés laboral, alucinación y experiencias anómalas entre profesionales de enfermería

Objetivo: evaluar el tipo y frecuencia de experiencias perceptuales inusuales en ámbitos hospitalarios, así como su relación con el estrés laboral y la absorción, y comparar tales experiencias en enfermeros (os) que las han tenido. Materiales y Métodos: se analizó una muestra de 39 enfermeros (as) con tales experiencias y un grupo control de 61 profesionales (sin experiencias). Las enfermeros (as) completaron cuatro instrumentos: la Encuesta de Experiencias Anómalo/Paranormales en Enfermeras y Trabajadores de la Salud, el Maslach Burnout Inventory que mide el estrés laboral, el Cuestionario de Experiencias Alucinatorias que evalúa la propensión a la alucinación y la Escala de Absorción de Tellegen que evalúa el grado de involucramiento en la percepción. Resultados: los profesionales que reportaron tales experiencias no tendían a experimentar mayor estrés laboral, en comparación con un grupo control, en contra de la principal hipótesis; sin embargo, mostraron mayor frecuencia experiencias perceptivas anómalas asociadas a la capacidad de absorción psicológica, que resultó el principal predictor entre enfermeras con experiencia y el grupo control [β= 0,33, p= 0,005; R2= 0,12] combinando estrés laboral y propensión a la alucinación. Conclusión: el análisis estadístico confirma que los profesionales de enfermería que reportan experiencias perceptuales inusuales, tienden a mostrar mayor absorción psicológica, de igual forma, mayor propensión a alucinar; sin embargo, ninguna de estas variables se relaciona con el estrés laboral. El turno de noche es el más propenso a estas experiencias. PALABRAS CLAVE: estrés laboral, enfermería, parapsicología, percepción extrasensorial.Relationship between work stress, hallucination and abnormal experiences among nursing professionals ABSTRACT Objective: evaluate the type and frequency of unusual perceptual experiences in hospital areas, as well as its relationship with work stress and absorption, and compare such experiences in nurses who have had. Materials and Methods: a sample of 39 nurses with such experiences and a control group of 61 professionals (without experiences) were analyzed. The nurses completed four instruments: The Survey of Abnormal/Paranormal Experiences in Nurses and Health Workers, the Maslach Burnout Inventory that measures work stress, the Questionnaire of Hallucinatory Experiences that evaluates the tendency of hallucinating, and the Tellegen Absorption Scale that assesses the degree of involvement in perception. Results: the professionals that reported such experiences did not tend to experience major work stress, in comparison to a control group, in opposition to the first hypothesis; however, they showed more frequency to abnormal perceptual experiences associated with the capacity of psychological absorption, which resulted in the main predictor between nurses with experience and the control group [β= 0,33, p= 0,005; R2= 0,12] combining work stress and tendency of hallucination. Conclusion: the statistical analysis confirms that the nursing professionals that report unusual perceptual experiences, tend to show a greater psychological absorption, likewise, a greater tendency to hallucinate; however, none of these variables is related with work stress. The night shift is the most prone to these experiences. KEYWORDS: burnout professional, nursing, parapsychology, extrasensory perception. Relação entre estresse de trabalho, alucinação e experiências anômalas entre professionais de enfermagem RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o tipo e frequência de experiências perceptuais incomuns em âmbitos hospitalários, assim como sua relação com o estresse de trabalho e a absorção, e comparar tais experiências em enfermeiras (os) que tiveram. Materiais e Métodos: analisou-se uma amostra de 39 enfermeiras (os) com tais experiências e um grupo controle de 61 professionais (inexperientes). As enfermeiras (os) completaram quatro instrumentos: a Pesquisa de Experiências Anômalo/Paranormais em Enfermeiras e Trabalhadores da Saúde, o Maslach Burnout Inventory que mede o estresse de trabalho, o Questionário de Experiências Alucinatórias que avalia a propensão à alucinação e a Escala de Absorção de Tellegen que avalia o grau de envolvimento na percepção. Resultados: os professionais que reportaram tais experiências não tenderam a experimentar maior estresse de trabalho, em comparação com um grupo controle, contra a hipótese principal; porém, mostraram maior frequência de experiências perceptivas anômalas associadas à capacidade de absorção psicológica, que resultou o principal preditor entre enfermeiras com experiência e o grupo controle [β= 0,33, p= 0,005; R2= 0,12] combinando estresse de trabalho e propensão à alucinação. Conclusões: a análise estadística confirma que os professionais de enfermagem que reportam experiências perceptuais incomuns, tendem a mostrar maior absorção psicológica; de igual maneira, maior propensão a alucinar; no entanto, nenhuma destas variáveis se relaciona com o estresse de trabalho. O turno da noite é o mais propenso a esse tipo de experiência.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: esgotamento profissional, enfermagem, parapsicologia, percepção extra-sensorial.

Musical and non-musical involvement in daily life: The case of absorption

The construct of absorption (effortless engagement) has been the subject of a small number of discipline-specific studies of involvement, including music. This paper reports the results of an empirical project that compared psychological qualities of absorption in everyday music listening scenarios with characteristics of non-music-related involvement. Absorption was located in “real-world” settings, and experiences across different activities in a variety of contexts were tapped as soon as possible after they occurred. The inquiry was designed to test two assumptions that have underpinned previous absorption research: first, that certain activities are inherently particularly absorbing; second, that absorption is best conceptualized primarily as a trait as opposed to a state. Twenty participants kept diaries for two weeks, recording descriptions of involving experiences of any kind. Eight weeks after submitting descriptive reports they completed the Modified Tellegen Absorption Scale ( Jamieson, 2005 ). Diaries indicated that different activities shared a subset of involving features, and confirmed the importance of multi-sensory perception and the imaginative faculty to absorbed experiences. Music may be a particularly effective agent in the facilitation of absorption because it affords multiple potential entry points to involvement (acoustic attributes, source specification, entrainment, emotion, fusion of modalities) and because its semantic malleability makes it adaptable to a variety of circumstances. The MODTAS provided insufficient evidence for establishing correlations between state and trait absorption. It is argued that state and trait divisions are constructs that are inherently problematic.

Psychomanteum Research: Experiences and Effects on Bereavement

A Psychomanteum Process involving mirror-gazing was conducted in a research setting to explore apparent facilitated contact with deceased friends and relatives, and to collect data on the phenomena, experiences, and effects on bereavement. A pilot study with five participants resulted in strong experiences and four apparent contacts. The main study took 27 participants through a three-stage process: remembering a deceased friend or relative, sitting in a darkened room gazing into a mirror while thinking of the person, and finally discussing and reflecting on the experience. Data were collected with pre- and post-questionnaires, a follow-up questionnaire at least four weeks after the session, interviews by the facilitators, and two personality measures, the Tellegen Absorption Scale and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Contacts with the sought person were reported by 13 participants. Participants reported that a variety of imagery appeared in the mirror, as well as experiences of dialogue, sounds, light, body sensations, and smell. Several specific messages were reported by participants who believed that they were from the sought persons. Twenty-one self-report items relating to bereavement were analyzed for changes between pre- and follow-up questionnaires. Using a Wilcoxon signed ranks analysis, statistically significant reductions in bereavement responses were found over the entire group ( p=.05 to .0008). These included unresolved feelings, loss, grief, guilt, sadness, and need to communicate. Participants also reported significant impact on their lives following the session.