Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV)

Abstract

BackgroundThe OAV questionnaire has been developed to integrate research on altered states of consciousness (ASC). It measures three primary and one secondary dimensions of ASC that are hypothesized to be invariant across ASC induction methods. The OAV rating scale has been in use for more than 20 years and applied internationally in a broad range of research fields, yet its factorial structure has never been tested by structural equation modeling techniques and its psychometric properties have never been examined in large samples of experimentally induced ASC.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe present study conducted a psychometric evaluation of the OAV in a sample of psilocybin (n = 327), ketamine (n = 162), and MDMA (n = 102) induced ASC that was obtained by pooling data from 43 experimental studies. The factorial structure was examined by confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory structural equation modeling, hierarchical item clustering (ICLUST), and multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling. The originally proposed model did not fit the data well even if zero-constraints on non-target factor loadings and residual correlations were relaxed. Furthermore, ICLUST suggested that the “oceanic boundlessness” and “visionary restructuralization” factors could be combined on a high level of the construct hierarchy. However, because these factors were multidimensional, we extracted and examined 11 new lower order factors. MIMIC modeling indicated that these factors were highly measurement invariant across drugs, settings, questionnaire versions, and sexes. The new factors were also demonstrated to have improved homogeneities, satisfactory reliabilities, discriminant and convergent validities, and to differentiate well among the three drug groups.Conclusions/SignificanceThe original scales of the OAV were shown to be multidimensional constructs. Eleven new lower order scales were constructed and demonstrated to have desirable psychometric properties. The new lower order scales are most likely better suited to assess drug induced ASC.

Acute Effects of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide in Healthy Subjects

“…In particular, LSD produced 30% higher ratings for both oceanic boundlessness (mostly blissful state), 30% higher ratings for anxious ego dissolution, and 63% higher ratings for visionary restructuralization (mostly greater audio-visual synesthesia) compared with a high dose of psilocybin (54,56 with DMT and ketamine, LSD produced 50% higher ratings for both oceanic boundlessness, 50% higher ratings for visionary restructuralization, and comparably high ratings for anxious ego dissolution (21,28). LSD produced similar ratings on the AMRS for emotional excitation, inactivation, and dreaminess compared with high-dose psilocybin (54).…”

“…Because of the continued popularity of LSD as a recreational drug and renewed interest in its therapeutic use (11,27), we reexamined the acute response to LSD in healthy subjects. To allow for a better characterization of the subjective effects of LSD, we used psychometric instruments that have been used with other psychotropic drugs, including hallucinogens, empathogens, and stimulants (20,21,(28)(29)(30)(31).…”

Differential effects of MDMA and methylphenidate on social cognition

“…The 60-item Adjective Mood Rating Scale (AMRS; (Janke and Debus, 1978;Hysek et al, 2011) was administered 1 h before and 1.25, 4, and 24 h after drug administration. The 5-Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (5D-ASC; (Studerus et al, 2010) was used 5 h after drug administration to retrospectively rate the effects of the drugs.…”

Mismatch Negativity Encoding of Prediction Errors Predicts S-ketamine-Induced Cognitive Impairments

“…This revised scale (ASC-R) (Studerus et al, 2010) comprises three primary dimensions and their respective subscales: (i) 'oceanic boundlessness', referring to positively experienced egodissolution associated with changes in the sense of time and emotions, ranging from heightened mood to sublime happiness and feelings of unity with the environment, subsuming the subscales disembodiment, blissful state, spiritual experience, and experience of unity and insightfulness; (ii) 'anxious ego-disintegration', comprising the subscales anxiety and impaired control and cognition, including items for disordered thought and loss of control over body and thought; and (iii) visionary restructuralization, including the subscales elementary and complex imagery, audio-visual synesthesias, changed meaning of percepts, and auditory alterations.…”