Meditation-A Slippery Slope for Psychosis: A Case Series With Review of Evidence.
Jagriti Yadav, Akansha Bhardwaj, Purushottam Jangid, Priti Singh, Rajiv Gupta
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease August 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001656 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2 |
| Population | Two individuals who developed psychosis in association with meditation practice |
| Intervention | Meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Psychotic disorders |
| Key findings | Argues that intensive, unguided meditation can be associated with psychosis, illustrated by two cases with differing clinical presentations, and that adverse effects of meditation are underreported. The authors propose tailoring meditation practices to an individual's evaluated mental state, detecting "at-risk" mental states early, regularly screening for unwanted effects, and training guides to recognize early warning signs of psychosis. |
Abstract
Abstract: The practice of meditation has been traditionally viewed as a self-regulatory approach that aids in psychological well-being. Over the last decade, mindfulness-based meditation has gained a separate therapeutic significance in various mental health conditions. There has also been considerable understanding of the adverse effects of meditation over the years. Despite this, there is still underreporting of the altered behavioral presentations arising possibly because of intensive and unguided meditation practices. We present two cases of meditation-related psychosis with different clinical presentations. The write-up highlights the need for tailoring the meditation practices after evaluation of mental state of the individuals and early detection of "at-risk" mental states. There should be regular screening of emergence of any unwanted effects during the course of meditation and the guides should be able to detect the early warning signs of psychosis.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brain sources of EEG gamma frequency during volitionally meditation-induced, altered states of consciousness, and experience of the self Advanced meditator | 2001 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Alcohol Relapse Prevention: A Feasibility Pilot Study Adult alcohol-dependent graduates of an intensive outpatient program | 2008 | Prospective case series | n = 19 |
| How does it feel to lack a sense of boundaries? A case study of a long-term mindfulness meditator. A single long-term mindfulness practitioner (S) with 40 years of practice in... | 2015 | Qualitative case study | n = 1 |
| Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia Individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative... | 2009 | Case study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Problem Gambling A female problem gambler | 2011 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cites 13
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis Consciousness and Cognition May 19, 2003
- Unwanted effects: Is there a negative side of meditation? A multicentre survey PLoS One September 5, 2017
- Clinical Trials of Meditation Practices in Health Care: Characteristics and Quality The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine December 1, 2008
- TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION, ALTERED REALITY TESTING, AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease July 1, 1975
and 8 more in the library