Clinical Approaches to Non-Ordinary Experiences (NOEs): scoping review and bibliometric analysis
April 9, 2026 Everton de Oliveira Maraldi, Amanda Sales Cafezeiro, Taís Oliveira Silva et al. preprint
A scoping review and bibliometric analysis of 174 studies found that psychodynamic and transpersonal approaches dominate the clinical literature on non-ordinary experiences (NOEs), such as feelings of cosmic unity or sensing the deceased. Intervention techniques more frequently aimed to induce altered states (e.g., holotropic breathwork, meditation, psychedelic-assisted therapy) than to manage NOEs after they occurred. Bibliometric analysis revealed four research traditions: transpersonal/spiritual, psychiatric/psychopathological, psychedelic/meditative, and ethno-dissociative. The field relies heavily on case studies and qualitative reports, with limited experimental evidence, highlighting methodological and ethical challenges for future research.