Existential concerns as predictors of spiritual emergency and psychosis
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2021
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Inglis, M.
Storm, L.
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Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 2021; 53(2):157-190
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Maximilian Inglis, Lance Storm
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The cause of psychosis remains uncertain, and the current biological model for treating psychosis is only about 41% effective. Calls have been made for new hypotheses to be examined to aid in the understanding and treatment of psychosis. Evidence suggests that spiritual emergency (SE) can be psychologically healing and can be differentiated from psychosis by its divergent relationship with alogia and depression. Existential psychologists have posited a relationship between psychosis and existential distress (ED). The present study aimed to confirm alogia and depression as differentiating variables between psychosis and SE, in addition to exploring the relationships SE and psychosis have with existential concerns (ECs). Results confirmed that alogia and depression predict psychosis only, and there was no overlap in the ECs that predicted SE and psychosis. Psychosis was predicted by increased death anxiety, existential loneliness, and identity distress, while increased meaning (search for and presence of), psychological reactance, and decreased death anxiety predicted SE. The results indicate that SE may lead to psychological healing given the reduction in ED, while psychosis seems more a means of coping with ED. The findings have implications for the diagnosis of and potential treatments for psychosis.
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© 2021 Transpersonal Institute