Defining and measuring meditation-related adverse effects in mindfulness-based programs
Willoughby B. Britton, Jared R. Lindahl, David J. C. Cooper, Nicholas K. Canby, Roman Palitsky
Clinical psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science May 18, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/2167702621996340 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 96 |
| Population | Adults participating in an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | 8-week program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Eighty-three percent of participants reported at least one meditation-related side effect, with lasting bad effects occurring in 6% to 14% and associated with dysregulated arousal. |
Abstract
Research on the adverse effects of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) has been sparse and hindered by methodological imprecision. The 44-item Meditation Experiences Interview (MedEx-I) was used by an independent assessor to measure meditation-related side effects (MRSEs) following three variants of an 8-week program of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (n = 96). Each item was queried for occurrence, causal link to mindfulness meditation practice, duration, valence, and impact on functioning. Eighty-three percent of the MBP sample reported at least one MRSE. Meditation-related adverse effects with negative valences or negative impacts on functioning occurred in 58% and 37% of the sample, respectively. Lasting bad effects occurred in 6% to 14% of the sample and were associated with signs of dysregulated arousal (hyperarousal and dissociation). Meditation practice in MBPs is associated with transient distress and negative impacts at similar rates to other psychological treatments.