States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness: Models for Psychology and Psychopathology presents a comprehensive theory of consciousness measurement, extending the pioneering work of J.H. Jackson in the 1930s, with a special emphasis on the applications of Jackson's altered states of consciousness model to clinical psychopathology, psychotherapy, and information processing.The variety of normal, abnormal and pathological states of consciousness is described on a three-dimensional model of the main states of consciousness. A current state of consciousness fluctuates, taking place on the horizontal level, following biological rhythms: (1) sleep waking and (2) the basic rest activity cycle, that manifests as REM- Non-REM oscillations during sleep and its daily counterparts, i.e. the domination for contemplation of information from internal sources of stimulations or the domination of the goal-oriented activity focused on information from external sources of stimulations. The vertical dimension follows fluctuations on the developmental levels of the modalities of mental processes organization.The altered states of consciousness are denoted states, in which the content, the form or the quality of experiences is significantly different from ordinary states of consciousness, and they depict states which are not symptoms of any mental disorders. The Biological model of information processing, based on structures and functions of every living organism, is offered as an alternative to technical models of information processing in mental activity. The schema of Multi-Axial Diagnosis for Psychotherapy according to the Information Metabolism includes assessments of: (1) Boundaries (in analogy to a cellular membrane); (2) Self-Control Abilities Processes of Decision- Making (in analogy to nucleus), more specifically of dysfunctional beliefs and internal conflicts; (3) Ways of Processing Information (in analogy to reticullum endoplasmicum); (4) Energetic Resources (in analogy to mitochondrium), i.e., biological (somatic), psychological and social; (5) Abilities to Incorporate New Information (in analogy to rybosomes), more specifically, adaptation, i.e. a coping mechanism, assimilation of new information, accommodation of existing functional schemas to new information; (6) Abilities to Eliminate Useless Data (in analogy to lyzosomes), i.e. a defense mechanism.The explanatory power of the model is illustrated byits application to classification of relaxation, mediations and hypnotic states. A case study of a person with PTSD presents a multi-axial psychotherapeutic diagnosis integrating neurobiological, psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral findings. This model is described in terms of mathematical, dynamic systems theory.