Towards therapeutic paths with mindfulness meditation–based and psychedelics assisted psychotherapies in PTSD: Randomized controlled trials systematic review and meta-analysis
Solène Maeder, Cherine Fahim, Chantal Martin-Soelch
Cortica December 15, 2025 DOI: 10.26034/cortica.2025.8925 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | Adults with PTSD |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation-based interventions Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies |
| Topics | Meditation Psychedelic-assisted therapy PTSD |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Psychological intervention Intervention counseling Meta-analysis Adverse effect Confidence interval Medline Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Systematic review Clinical trial Hypnosis |
| Key findings | Both mindfulness meditation-based interventions and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies produce moderate, significant reductions in PTSD symptoms, with psychedelic therapies showing a slightly larger effect size. |
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare mindfulness meditation-based interventions (MMBIs) and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies (PAP) in PTSD and examine altered-state mediators as a shared mechanism. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published through January 2024. Trials reporting post-treatment changes in validated PTSD symptom measures were included, focusing on two intervention categories: MMBIs (n = 13 RCTs) and PAP (n = 9 RCTs). Standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated under a random-effects model, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). MMBIs produced a significant, moderate effect on PTSD symptoms (SMD=0.45, 95% CI [0.27, 0.63]; p < 0.001). PAP also demonstrated a moderate effect size (SMD=0.54, 95% CI [0.32, 0.76]; p < 0.001), with MDMA displaying slightly stronger outcomes than ketamine. PAP studies generally showed tighter confidence intervals and lower risk of bias compared to MMBI trials. Heterogeneity varied, but subgroup analyses indicated consistent effects across intervention types. Both MMBIs and PAP are efficacious in reducing PTSD symptoms among adults. While PAP appears to yield a marginally larger effect size, MMBIs offer practical advantages due to ease of dissemination. Future research should address long-term efficacy, adverse events, and culturally diverse populations. The role of altered states of consciousness in both interventions also warrant closer investigation, potentially illuminating mechanisms underlying therapeutic gains.