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 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.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 146
- History repeating: guidelines to address common problems in psychedelic science Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology 2023
- Prevalence of meditation-related adverse effects in a population-based sample in the United States Psychotherapy Research June 2, 2021
- Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings. Nature Mental Health July 10, 2023
- Importance of Integrating Spiritual, Existential, Religious, and Theological Components in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies. JAMA Psychiatry July 1, 2023
- A Framework for the Empirical Investigation of Mindfulness Meditative Development Mindfulness April 13, 2023
and 141 more in the library
Cites 23
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and 18 more in the library