Beyond serenity: Adverse effects of meditation and mindfulness in clinical practice.
Karin Matko, Nicholas T. van Dam
Current Opinion in Psychology February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.102197 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | A substantial proportion of meditation practitioners report adverse effects, including functional impairment, and factors such as retreat attendance and pre-existing mental health conditions may increase risk, though causality remains unclear. |
Abstract
Despite the growing popularity of mindfulness, mindfulness-based programs (MBPs), and meditation, potential harms have largely been overlooked. Recent studies reveal that 25-87 % of those who engage in meditation report adverse effects (AEs), with 3-37 % experiencing functional impairment (e.g., inability to work). It remains unclear to what extent AEs reflect transitory discomfort vs. lasting harm. Common AEs include anxiety, depression, and traumatic re-experiencing. Factors such as retreat attendance and pre-existing mental health conditions may increase the risk of AEs, though causality remains unclear. The review emphasises the need for thorough screening, informed consent, and ongoing monitoring in clinical practice. Recommendations include setting clear expectations, offering psychoeducational support, and adapting interventions when necessary and where appropriate. By addressing these concerns, clinicians can better balance the potential benefits with the potential risks, ensuring more responsible implementation of mindfulness and meditation in mental health care and beyond.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Mindfulness and Informed Consent: Navigating Ethical Complexity Across Contexts Mindfulness August 1, 2026
- Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials JMIR Mental Health June 12, 2026
- Recommending Meditation in Complex PTSD: Clinical Considerations Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association September 23, 2026
- Adverse Experiences in Brief Meditation Practices: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health September 14, 2026
- From Buddhist meditation to psychological well-being: an ethical-cultural training ecology model Frontiers in Psychology September 3, 2026
and 1 more in the library
Cites 28
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists PLoS One May 24, 2017
- Unwanted effects: Is there a negative side of meditation? A multicentre survey PLoS One September 5, 2017
and 23 more in the library