Altered States of Consciousness and Mental Health: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

The study of altered states of consciousness and mental health is a relatively young but evolving field which has attracted the attention of psychologists, psychiatrists and anthropologists. The current book attempts to present and share various perspectives on altered states of consciousness and placing them within the boundaries of cross-cultural psychology. The first of four major parts in the volume considers important theoretical and methodological issues in the study of altered states of consciousness; the second and third parts link altered states of consciousness and mental health by focusing on both its therapeutic and pathological aspects. The final section concentrates on models highlighting a variety of paradigms and diverse methodological approaches, thus providing basis for a framework for the study of altered states of consciousness and mental health.