Schizophrenia, Psychedelics, and Sense of Self: Comparison of Phenomenology and Neural Correlates
PsyArXiv November 5, 2025 Arthur Hamilton preprint
Schizophrenia and psychedelic drug states both involve alterations to the sense of self, such as a blurred boundary between self and world. In schizophrenia this is often called self disorder, while in psychedelic experiences it is known as ego dissolution. Neuroimaging studies have linked these alterations to differences in brain activity and structure, but most findings are hard to compare due to differing methods. The paper proposes developing a combined psychometric scale that includes items from both schizophrenia- and psychedelic-focused measures, to be used across schizophrenia, psychedelic, and control groups, along with neuroimaging comparisons, to better understand the similarities and differences between these altered self states.