The Mystical Experience Questionnaire 4-Item and Challenging Experience Questionnaire 7-Item.
Justin C Strickland, Albert Garcia‐romeu, Matthew W Johnson
Psychedelic Medicine March 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1089/psymed.2023.0046 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,160 |
| Population | Individuals reporting psychedelic use with therapeutic intent in nonstudy settings |
| Topics | Depression LSD Mystical experience Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Mental health psychology Peak experiences Challenging experience Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Spiritual experiences |
| Citations | 20 |
| Key findings | Brief four- and seven-item versions of the MEQ and CEQ correlate strongly with the full scales (r = 0.89 and 0.90) and replicate known associations with drug type and therapeutic outcomes. |
Abstract
The Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) and Challenging Effects Questionnaire (CEQ) are two of the most widely used, validated instruments to probe subjective effects of psychedelic drugs. However, these assessments are lengthy and can be a burden to study participants or patients if administered during acute psychedelic effects, after resolution of psychedelic effects when participants are often fatigued, or in studies with multiple other assessments. The development of briefer measures can advance research and patient assessment. This study developed and assessed the validity of brief versions of the MEQ-30 and CEQ (MEQ-4 and CEQ-7) using data collected online from individuals reporting psychedelic use with therapeutic intent in nonstudy settings (N = 1160). Respondents completed full and brief versions as well as mood questionnaires indexing mental health symptoms before their psychedelic experience and now. Full and brief version total scores showed strong correspondence for the MEQ (r = 0.89) and CEQ (r = 0.90). Brief versions also showed strong correspondence to full-scale subscale scores. MEQ and CEQ scores were higher for classic psychedelics (e.g., lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin) than for 3,4-Methylene-dioxymethamphetamine in this sample with both full and brief versions, consistent with previous full-version findings showing drug and dose-related differences using the MEQ. Also consistent with prior findings, higher mystical experience scores on both full and brief MEQ versions were associated with greater reductions in depression and anxiety, whereas challenging experiences on both full and brief CEQ versions showed limited association with changes in mental health variables. The notably strong association of brief scales with full versions combined with associations with therapeutic outcomes provide initial support for the MEQ-4 and CEQ-7. These findings, combined with substantial reductions in participant/patient burden, support the use of the MEQ-4 and CEQ-7 for a wide variety of research and patient treatment settings.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on LSD for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past-year hallucinogen use in relation to psychological distress, depression, and suicidality among US adults. US noninstitutionalized adults from the 2015-2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health | 2022 | Observational cohort | n = 241,675 |
| Naturalistic psychedelic therapy: The role of relaxation and subjective drug effects in antidepressant response 28 PAT patients and 28 healthy volunteers | 2024 | Observational cohort with comparison group | n = 56 |
| Real-world effectiveness and safety of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: Outcomes from a large-scale compassionate use cohort in Switzerland. Adults with treatment-resistant depressive and/or anxiety disorders | 2026 | Retrospective observational cohort | n = 115 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 23
- Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2025
- Phenomenology of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Distressing Effects: Quantifying Subjective Experiences. Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences December 31, 2024
- Adverse reactions among psychedelic users: Norwegian validation of the Challenging Experience Questionnaire Journal of Psychiatric Research May 26, 2025
- DMT and harmala alkaloids: an exploratory study of oral Acacia based formulations in healthy volunteers. Frontiers in Psychiatry August 15, 2025
- Development of Japanese Versions of the 4‐Item Mystical Experience Questionnaire and 7‐Item Challenging Experience Questionnaire Neuropsychopharmacology Reports August 27, 2026
and 18 more in the library
Cites 39
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression New England Journal of Medicine April 14, 2021
- Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Archives of General Psychiatry September 7, 2010
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
and 34 more in the library