BAE 2.1

Magazine Overview

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Volume 2, Number 1
Date: January 1991
Publisher: David Gotlib, M.D.
Country: Canada
Description: This issue of the Bulletin of Anomalous Experience, a networking newsletter focused on the UFO "Abduction" phenomenon and related topics for scientists and mental health professionals, features a variety of articles, feedback, and project highlights.

Contents and Key Articles

The "CONTENTS" section outlines the articles and topics covered:

• Feedback: This section includes reader contributions and responses.
• Richard Neal expresses skepticism regarding the "missing Embryo/Fetus Syndrome," noting a lack of medical referrals despite claims from various researchers. He suggests that cases he has researched in Southern California have reasonable obstetrical explanations.
• Leo Sprinkle provides feedback on a previous issue, commending Dr. Haines' Code of Ethics and discussing the role of witnesses in hypnosis sessions, preferring to follow client wishes for therapeutic goals.
• Hilary Evans responds to the editor's comments on Robert Baker's article, arguing that providing alternative interpretations is not the same as dismissing claims. Evans questions the implication that only those with "working experience with 'abductees'" have the right to speak and advocates for considering psychological alternatives.
• The editor, David Gotlib, responds to Evans, clarifying his reading of Baker's position and emphasizing the need for convincing physical evidence for the ET hypothesis, while also acknowledging the possibility of psychological explanations.

• U. of North Dakota UFO Course: A notice about a course titled "Special Topics: UFOs, ETs & Close Encounters" offered by the University of North Dakota, taught by Dr. John Salter, which accepts the reality of UFOs and their extraterrestrial origins.

• Networking: Bios of Hilary Evans, Stanton Friedman, Jean Mundy: This section provides biographical and professional information on key contributors.
• Hilary Evans, a librarian and author, discusses her lifelong curiosity about why people believe unbelievable things and her interest in paranormal phenomena, including UFOs. She suggests psychosocial explanations are more probable for abduction experiences than extraterrestrial origins, while acknowledging the existence of transcending powers like telepathy and psychokinesis.
• Stanton Friedman, a physicist and lecturer, details his background in nuclear physics and his extensive work as a speaker on UFOs, including the Roswell incident and alleged government cover-ups. He lists four key points about UFOs: they are alien spacecraft, the government knows this, sceptic arguments are flawed, and alien visits are the biggest story of the millennium. He also promotes his UFOLINE 900 number and literature.
• Jean Mundy, a retired Professor of Psychology, shares her experience in psychotherapy with abductees, believing her clients have had direct contact with alien life forms. She advocates for Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Gestalt principles in treating UFO trauma and has written a cartoon book and a play related to UFO experiences.

• Three Other Projects of Interest:
• A Study of PTSD in Abductees: A proposal by Dr. Leslie E. Wong of Evergreen College for a study to determine if the abduction phenomenon causes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in abductees.
• ISSSEEM (International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine): An interdisciplinary society focused on informational and energetic interactions, human psyche, and physiology. It publishes a newsletter and journal and held its first annual meeting in June 1991.
• SEN (Spiritual Emergence Network): A non-profit organization that provides understanding and support for individuals experiencing intense spiritual experiences, including UFO abduction experiences, viewing them as "spiritual emergencies."

• Mystical Experiences With Psychotic Features (MEPF): An excerpt from a paper by David Lukoff in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, proposing a new diagnostic category for MEPF. It outlines criteria for identifying such cases, emphasizing the overlap with mystical experiences (ecstatic mood, sense of knowledge, perceptual alterations, mythological delusions) and the importance of distinguishing them from conceptual disorganization. The paper suggests that some MEPF cases have positive outcomes and can be treated effectively.

• Complex Partial Seizures: Mentioned in relation to the MEPF discussion, suggesting a potential link or overlap with certain types of anomalous experiences.

Projects We Should Know About

The issue highlights several ongoing projects:

• ISSSEEM: Focuses on subtle energies, energy medicine, and their influence on the human psyche and physiology. It explores concepts like chi, prana, and etheric energy, and aims to bridge natural science with transpersonal aspects of the human psyche.

• SEN: Provides support and information for individuals experiencing "spiritual emergencies," including UFO abduction experiences, viewing them as transformative processes. Their reading lists include works by Stanislav Grof.

• SLIDE (Street Lamp Interference Data Exchange): An informal network project collecting reports of people experiencing street lamps turning on or off, suggesting a phenomenon involving interaction between the human mind and the physical environment. It aims to gather data and provide a forum for those experiencing and researching SLI.

Book Note

• Alternate States of Consciousness by Hilary Evans (1989): Described as an accessible and comprehensive volume for laymen, covering different types of ASCs, triggers, motives, and benefits/costs. It is recommended but may be difficult to find in North America.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of anomalous experiences, particularly UFO abductions. There is a clear tension between those who advocate for extraterrestrial explanations and those who favor psychological or psychosocial interpretations. The editor, David Gotlib, positions BAE as a forum for debate, encouraging a critical yet open-minded approach. The emphasis on networking among professionals and the exploration of new diagnostic categories (like MEPF) and research projects (ISSSEEM, SEN, SLIDE) suggest a desire to bring a more structured and scientific inquiry to these complex phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of facilitating discussion and disseminating information, rather than promoting a single viewpoint, while also highlighting the importance of rigorous research and avoiding simplistic conclusions.

Title: Bulletin of Anomalous Experience
Issue: Vol. 2, No. 1
Date: January 1991

This issue features a review of "Complex Partial Seizures," an article by George B. Murray, MD, originally from Psychiatric Medicine Update. The review aims to clarify the differential diagnosis of anomalous experiences by examining this neurological condition.

Complex Partial Seizures: A Review

Introduction The article highlights that strange or bizarre behavior can be a manifestation of a seizure disorder, and psychiatric presentations are common in patients with partial complex seizures. It notes that this diagnosis is frequently missed by both neurologists and psychiatrists who may not recognize the "atypical" features associated with temporal lobe, psychomotor, or complex partial seizures.

Terminology

A SEIZURE is defined as a transient, paroxysmal disturbance of cerebral function caused by excessive cortical neuron discharge. The clinical effects depend on the seizure's origin and spread.

• GENERALIZED SEIZURES: Bilaterally symmetric, without a local onset.
• PARTIAL SEIZURES: Begin locally and may or may not become secondarily generalized.

Partial seizures are further categorized:

• SIMPLE (without impairment of consciousness): Characterized by elementary symptomatology, like a sensation of itching.
• COMPLEX (with loss of consciousness): Initial symptoms are less extensive than generalized seizures. This category includes:
• ABSENCE: Brief clouding of consciousness (1-15 seconds), often associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. Differentiating temporal lobe absence from generalized absence is important for medication choice.
• PETIT MAL: Simple or complex absence with bilateral, synchronous, rhythmic 3/sec spike-wave complexes on EEG. It's rare for petit mal to first occur after age 20.
• TEMPORAL LOBE EPILEPSY (TLE): Seizures confirmed by EEG to originate in the temporal lobe. TLE typically includes seizures with automatisms, amnesia, and psychic symptoms like hallucinations and illusions.
• PSYCHICIAL SEIZURES: Partial epileptic seizures with complex psychic symptoms (hallucinations, illusions) resulting from neuronal discharge in the temporal lobe's associative cortex.

Ictal Characteristics Of Complex Partial Seizures

Patients experiencing a complex partial seizure may exhibit an aura, automatic behavior (e.g., picking at clothes, moving objects), or a glazed look. They typically have amnesia for the event. Physicians often diagnose complex partial seizure if automatisms and amnesia are present with a relevant history.

Key elements of ictal behavior include:

• Memory disturbances
• Hallucinations
• Egocentricity
• Forced thinking
• Automatism

While amnesia for ictal events is often used as a differentiator from hysteria, the article notes that "islands of memory" can exist during complex partial seizures. Automatisms are defined as the individual being able to move normally but lacking understanding, often followed by amnesia.

Interictal Characteristics Of Complex Partial Seizures

An "interictal behavior syndrome" has been described, characterized by:

1. DAY-TO-DAY VARIABILITY: Unstable character, heightened emotionality (euphoria alternating with depression or anger).
2. IRRITABILITY: Aggression towards objects or people, with an "on-off" quality, potentially leading to a diagnosis of borderline personality organization.
3. RELIGIOUSITY: Intense interest in religious or philosophical subjects, often expressed righteously.
4. HYPOSEXUALITY: Decreased libido.
5. EXCESSIVE CONCERN WITH TRIVIAL EVENTS, HYPERGRAPHIA, AND VISCOSITY: Circumstantiality, excessive writing (poetry, novels, diaries, letters).

Infrequent interictal hallucinations can lead to a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The EEG

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a vital diagnostic tool. A sleep EEG is more effective than an awake EEG for detecting abnormalities in suspected complex partial seizure patients. An abnormal EEG with temporal spikes, or sharp/slow activities, supports the suspicion, but the diagnosis remains clinical. A normal awake EEG does not rule out complex partial seizure. Ideally, diagnosis requires signs, symptoms, and EEG manifestations.

The use of nasopharyngeal leads is discussed, with varying opinions on their utility and the challenges in their application.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on three areas: signs, symptoms, and EEG. Four scenarios and treatment recommendations are outlined:

1. Symptoms, signs, and abnormal EEG: Trial of anticonvulsant medication and neurological workup.
2. Symptoms, signs, and negative EEG: Trial of anticonvulsants.
3. Symptoms, no signs, and abnormal EEG: Trial of anticonvulsants.
4. Symptoms alone with a negative EEG: If the EEG was awake, a sleep or repeat EEG is recommended. If no prior psychiatric history exists and no affective/cognitive illness is present, suspicion of complex partial seizures may warrant an anticonvulsant trial, depending on prior response to psychotropic medications and symptom intensity.

Treatment

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is considered superior for complex partial seizures and is also studied for affective disorders. Baseline blood studies are necessary due to potential hemopoietic suppression. Other options include phenytoin, primadone, phenobarbital, clonazepam, and valproic acid.

Adequate anticonvulsive therapy may not always eliminate interictal psychosis. If hallucinations or illusions persist despite anticonvulsants, psychotropic medication (usually neuroleptics) may be used, often requiring lower doses than for schizophrenic patients.

Psychotherapy is highly beneficial, particularly supportive, explanatory therapy that validates the patient's experience. This is best provided by a physician familiar with partial seizures.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue focuses on the intersection of neurology and psychiatry, particularly concerning conditions that can manifest as "anomalous experiences." The editorial stance appears to be educational, aiming to equip readers with knowledge to better understand and potentially diagnose complex neurological and psychological phenomena that might otherwise be misinterpreted. The "Don't Forget to Write!" notice suggests an ongoing dialogue and encourages reader participation for future issues.