A novel ego dissolution scale A construct validation study.
Ego dissolution (i.e., ego loss, ego disintegration, ego death, or self-loss) is a conscious state marked by a loss or diminution of ones sense of self and a lack of first-person experience. We developed a novel, valid, and internally consistent ego dissolution scale to both (a) assess trait-like aspects of ego dissolution, which have received scant attention to date, and (b) facilitate future research in a variety of contexts (e.g., personality, psychopathology, substance usepsychedelics, contemplative practices). We determined that the 10-item Ego Dissolution Scale (EDS Cronbachs α 0.80) and its identified subfactors of Ego-Loss (Cronbachs α 0.84) and Unity (Cronbachs α 0.75) were internally consistent, possessed strong convergent (e.g., depersonalizationderealization, mysticism, unusual experiences) and discriminant validity (e.g., neuroticism, social desirability). We found ego dissolution and dissociation to be empirically related yet discriminable on a statistical basis.