Update of the Altered States Database (ASDB): 2025-12-31

The Altered States Database (ASDB) is an open-access collection of psychometric questionnaire data on subjective experiences during pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically induced altered states of consciousness. Updated annually, the current update adds data from 2025, sourced from a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines. Screening 578 items yielded 32 journal articles, mostly reporting on the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) and the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scales (11-ASC, 5D-ASC). The ASDB now includes data from 36 pharmacological and 18 non-pharmacological consciousness-modifying techniques, encompassing 289 journal articles and 836 datasets from 29,287 participants. The database is freely accessible online.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The Open Data initiative Altered States Database (ASDB) collects psychometric questionnaire data on the subjective experiences of pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically induced altered states of consciousness. The ASDB is updated annually and can be utilized by both researchers and non-scientists to access information or conduct further analyses. The current update adds data published in the year 2025, sourced from a systematic literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 578 items were screened, resulting in 32 included journal articles, of which nineteen report on the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30), eighteen on the 11-Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (11-ASC), fourteen on the 5D-ASC, two on the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), and one on the Hallucinogen Rating Scale (HRS). In total, the ASDB now encompasses data from 36 pharmacological and 18 non‑pharmacological consciousness modifying techniques (CMT) (plus control substances/techniques), incorporating 289 journal articles and 836 single datasets from 29.287 participants across datasets. The ASDB can be accessed on https://asdb.info and data tables can be downloaded from Open Science Framework (OSF; https://osf.io/8mbru).