Vincent Diehl, BSc
University of Fribourg; Lake Lucerne Institute in Vitznau & Erasmus University Rotterdam
Speaker Bio
Vincent Diehl is a Research Assistant at the University of Fribourg and the Lake Lucerne Institute in Vitznau, Switzerland. Here, Vincent deepened his skills in conducting clinical interviews, scientific writing, managing data, and co-supervise LSD experience sessions. At these institutions he will soon start his position as PhD student in Medical Sciences. He also contributed as an Organizing Member for the Summer School on Psychedelic Research in Groningen, helping to manage research projects and evaluate research posters.
At the ALPS Foundation in Geneva, as a Research Associate Fellow and Student Advisory Board Coordinator, Vincent engaged in extensive data collection, literature research, and report writing for various projects. His collaboration with Vrije University Amsterdam on a Meta-Analysis of Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy further exhibits his commitment to psychedelic research.
Vincent Diehl, an MSc student in Clinical Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is steadily making his mark in the field. His academic work is notable, and his involvement in psychedelic research shows promise for his future in clinical psychology. Vincent's range of experiences, particularly in this specialized area, highlights his commitment to contributing to the evolving landscape of psychological studies.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
The Helioscope Effect - Validation of the Difficult Experience Processing Scale (DEPS)
Background: Psychedelics, including MDMA, are believed to help people process difficult or traumatic experiences by protecting them from the overwhelming intensity of distressing memories and potentially offer a new perspective on them, an phenomenon termed “helioscope effect”. However, no tool exists to measure this specific effect. This study introduces the Difficult Experience Processing Scale (DEPS), a questionnaire developed to investigate whether this effect can be observed during psychedelic experiences.
Research Question: We aimed to evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the DEPS and assess the prevalence of the “helioscope effect”. We hypothesized low correlations with the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (discriminant validity) and a high correlation with the Psychological Insight Questionnaire (PIQ) (convergent validity). We hypothesized DEPS score would significantly predict positive outcomes in the Persistent Effects Questionnaire (PEQ).
Methods: The study used an online survey with 280 participants who had a psychedelic experience within the past year. Recruitment was done through online ads and word of mouth. Data on drug type, usage, set and setting variables, personality, and acute drug effects were collected. Our analytical approach encompassed exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation assessments, and multiple linear regression with DEPS as the predictor.
Findings and Conclusion: We found a two-factor structure, along with acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. The DEPS significantly predicted the positive outcome in PEQ, however it didn’t add predictive power to the PIQ. The study successfully positions DEPS as a measure of the helioscope effect in psychedelic users, contributing to our understanding of psychedelic-assisted experience processing.