A scoping review and bibliometric analysis of 174 studies found that psychodynamic and transpersonal approaches dominate the clinical literature on non-ordinary experiences (NOEs), such as feelings of cosmic unity or sensing the deceased. Intervention techniques more frequently aimed to induce altered states (e.g., holotropic breathwork, meditation, psychedelic-assisted therapy) than to manage NOEs after they occurred. Bibliometric analysis revealed four research traditions: transpersonal/spiritual, psychiatric/psychopathological, psychedelic/meditative, and ethno-dissociative. The field relies heavily on case studies and qualitative reports, with limited experimental evidence, highlighting methodological and ethical challenges for future research.
Spiritual and religious experiences (SREs) are common subjective phenomena involving awareness of transcendence that can change how people view life, death, and suffering. In an online survey of 1,053 Brazilians from all regions, 92% reported at least one SRE in their lifetime, and 47.5% had one frequently. Mystical experiences were reported by 35%, psi-related experiences by 27.7%, and mediumistic experiences by 11%. Half the sample had felt the presence of a dead person, and 70% experienced precognitive dreams at least once. SREs were more common among women but showed no link to income, education, employment, or ethnicity. Mystical experiences were more common in people aged 55 and older. The findings suggest SREs are very prevalent across different population segments and deserve more attention from researchers and clinicians in Brazil.