Consciousness and cognition
March 1, 2023
Fiona G Sleight, Steven Jay Lynn, Richard E Mattson et al.
16 citations
A new 10-item Ego Dissolution Scale (EDS) reliably measures trait-like tendencies toward losing one's sense of self and experiencing unity, with internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.80) and subfactors for Ego-Loss (α = 0.84) and Unity (α = 0.75). The scale shows strong convergent validity with depersonalization, derealization, mysticism, and unusual experiences, and discriminant validity against neuroticism and social desirability. Ego dissolution and dissociation are empirically related but statistically distinguishable.
Front Neurosci
December 5, 2023
Steven Jay Lynn, Charlie W. McDonald, Fiona G. Sleight et al.
8 citations
Ego dissolution—the experience of losing one's sense of self—is a key feature of psychedelic drug use. Researchers developed and cross-validated a 10-item Ego Dissolution Scale (EDS) for measuring this phenomenon in everyday life, not just during acute drug effects. In an online sample of 527 participants, the scale showed a two-factor structure: Ego-Loss and Unity/connectedness with others, the world, or universe. The total score and both subfactors had adequate-to-good reliability and strong convergent validity with measures such as mindfulness, hallucination-proneness, sleep variables, personality, affect, transliminality, and dissociation. Neuroticism and social desirability did not correlate highly with ego dissolution. Distinct patterns emerged for the two subfactors, supporting the scale's use in studying everyday ego dissolution and long-term effects of psychedelics.