Being no one, being One: The role of ego-dissolution and connectedness in the therapeutic effects of psychedelic experience
Journal of Psychedelic Studies September 16, 2022 Ada Kałużna, Marco Schlosser, Emily Gulliksen Craste et al. 41 citations
Both ego-dissolution and connectedness during a psychedelic experience are associated with a higher chance of therapeutic improvement, but they affect people differently. Ego-dissolution tends to trigger psychological change that typically does not last beyond the psychedelic experience, while connectedness can be more sustained and is linked to several positive, potentially therapeutic feelings. A mixed-methods systematic review of 15 studies (2,182 participants) synthesized findings from four databases. The results suggest that emphasizing ego-dissolution during preparation and connectedness during integration may improve psychedelic therapy models, with broader implications for mental health practice.