The Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scales (ASC) are psychometric scales used in research on altered states of consciousness such as those induced by hallucinogenic drugs like psychedelics. Forms include the APZ, OAV (3D-ASC), 5D-ASC, 11-ASC, and 3D-ASCr.
Forms The ASC scale has several different forms, including:
Abnorme / Aussergewöhnliche Psychische Zustände (APZ; Abnormal Mental States) – the original three-dimensional version (1975)Dittrich, A. Ätiologie-unabhängige Strukturen veränderter Wachbewußtseinszustände: Ergebnisse empirischer Untersuchungen über Halluzinogene I. und II. Ordnung, sensorische Deprivation, hypnagoge Zustände, hypnotische Verfahren sowie Reizüberflutung; 119 Tabellen. (Enke, 1985) OAV (Ozeanische Selbstentgrenzung (OSE), Angstvolle Ich-Auflösung (AIA), Visionäre Umstrukturierung (VUS)—translated to Oceanic Boundlessness, Dread of Ego Dissolution, Visionary Restructuralization; 3D-ASC) – the revised three-dimensional version (1989) Bewüsstseinstrübung und Akustische Halluzinationen (BETA) – supplemental scale with two additional dimensions—auditory alterations (AUA) and vigilance reduction (VIR) (undated) 5D-ASC – expanded five-dimensional version and combination of OAV and BETA (1999) 11-ASC – revised 11-factor version (2010) 3D-ASCr – revised three-dimensional version (2025)
The 5D-ASC is the most widely used, followed by the 11-ASC version, based on literature citation counts in 2022.
History The original APZ was first described by Adolf Dittrich in 1975 and was among the earliest scales for assessing hallucinogen effects.Dittrich, A. (1975). Zusammenstellung eines fragebogens (APZ) zur erfas‐sung abnormer psychischer zustände [construction of a question‐naire (APZ) for assessing abnormal mental states]. Z Klin Psychol Psychiatr Psychother, 23, 12. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=8870873145239709113 The OAV (3D-ASC) was developed and described by I. Bodmer in 1989.Bodmer I (1989) Konstruktion des Fragebogens OAV zur quantitativen Erfassung von aussergewöhnlichen Bewusstseinszuständen (ABZ). Unpublished Lizentiatsarbeit [Master's-Thesis equivalent]. University of Zurich, Zurich.Bodmer I, Dittrich A and Lamparter D (1994) Aussergewöhnliche Bewusstseinszustände—ihre gemeinsame Struktur und Messung. In: Dittrich A, Hofmann A and Leuner H (eds) Welten Des Bewusstseins. Bd. 3. Experimentelle Psychologie, Neurobiologie Und Chemie. Berlin, Germany: VWB—Verlag für Wissenschaft und Bildung. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=15632949336738292786 BETA was later developed by Dittrich and colleagues and then the OAV and BETA were combined by them to create the 5D-ASC in 1999. The 11-ASC was described by Franz X. Vollenweider and colleagues in 2010. The 3D-ASCr scale was described by Matthias Liechti and colleagues in 2025.
See also List of hallucinogen scales
References