Traditional psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, or DMT, are psychoactive compounds that exert their effects mainly through agonism over serotonergic receptors. In appropriate doses and contexts, they produce profound changes in the subjective experience, configuring altered states of consciousness that, upon reaching a critical point, involve the appearance of phenomena of mystical,...
This paper presents a critical comparison between two phenomenological accounts of schizophrenic experience: on the one side, Blankenburg’s seminal work on the basal disturbance (Grundstörung) of schizophrenia as loss of natural self-evidence (Natürlichen Selbstverständlichkeit); on the other side, Tatossian’s insight, briefly elaborated in a lecture presented in Heidelberg in 1994 and largely...
June 30, 2023Matt P D Gwyther, Jane E. Aspell3 citations
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Flotation-Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) and mindfulness meditation (MM) are known to induce altered states of consciousness (ASC) and self-consciousness. In this study, we use a phenomenological and predictive processing (PP) framework to compare the interventions alongside the psychedelic experience. Ego-dissolution scores were greater than ego-inflation scores in both...
Dissociation is a "disruption of the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception of the environment" according to DSM-5. It is commonly seen in psychiatric disorders including primary dissociative disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and panic disorder. Dissociative phenomena are also described in the context of substance intoxication, sleep...
Abstract: The social isolation created by the COVID-19 lockdown prompted a dramatic increase in use of the internet, Zoom, and Skype. It also brought greater attention to the subject of internet addiction. New books and studies took a closer look at problematic internet use and issues related to increased time spent online, as well as increased dependence on smartphones for social interaction....
Abstract The chapter elaborates psychodynamic psychotherapy approaches to the treatment of depersonalization/derealization disorder (DDD), intertwined with illustrative case examples. The chapter starts with more classic psychoanalytic reflections on the nature and treatment of depersonalization/derealization, including the often-assumed chronicity and refractoriness of the condition, the use...
Abstract The chapter focuses on the many nuances of depersonalization/derealization (dpdr) experiences, and on how to measure dpdr symptoms. The meanings of the word “unreal,” as well as shifts in the phenomenology of the disorder over the past century are discussed. Two self-report questionnaires are provided and explicated. The Dissociative Experiences Scale is a 28-item questionnaire that...
Abstract Depersonalization is the third most common psychiatric symptom, yet clinicians and lay people still know little about its presentation and treatment. While it can indeed be a symptom accompanying other mental illnesses, it is also a full-blown disorder unto itself, recognized by every major diagnostic manual. Chapter 1 discusses the symptoms of depersonalization/derealization disorder...
The religious nature of Joseph Beuys’ works was ignored or intentionally avoided by mainstream criticism since his artistic practice was ridiculed for its potential spirituality. It is argued that Beuys’ works are work meditations on the issues of potential ego in totemic art, which are frequent topics of theological concern. For example, what is the nature of our consciousness after death, and...
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew that has been the focus of an increasing number of investigations for its potential therapeutic effects. In addition to psychiatric improvements, qualitative studies and anecdotal reports suggest that ayahuasca use may influence gratitude and relationships with nature. Yet, to date, these specific changes have been understudied. Here, participants (N = 54)...