Mapping Relationships of Nonordinary Experiences and Mental Health: A Network Analysis in a Representative Brazilian Sample

Nonordinary experiences (NOEs), such as hearing voices or dissolution of the self, are more common than typically assumed yet poorly understood, and their effect on mental health underexplored. We present the topological structure of a range of NOEs and their differential relationship with mental health in a representative sample of Brazilian adults for race, sex, region, and age (N = 878). A network analysis revealed three coherent clusters, indicating that specific NOEs tend to cooccur, hinting at possible biological or cultural underlying mechanisms. This advances previous research that typically treated experiences in isolation and instead suggests a coherent experience structure. Individual experiences within clusters showed both positive and negative associations with depression scores in particular challenging simplistic explanations of NOEs as either pathological or spiritually enriching. Our findings highlight the need for research regarding the structure and nature of NOEs to help researchers and clinicians better understand their implications for mental health.