Meditation-Induced Psychosis: Trigger and Recurrence
Sulochana Joshi, Anusha Manandhar, Pawan Sharma
Case Reports in Psychiatry August 13, 2021 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1155/2021/6615451 via OpenAlex
Summary
A 33-year-old male experienced acute and transient psychosis twice after practicing meditation, highlighting that while meditation is often beneficial for mental health, it can also precipitate negative effects. This case illustrates the potential risks associated with meditation, including the occurrence of meditation-induced psychosis.
Study at a glance
| Design | case study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | a 33-year-old male patient |
| Key finding | Meditation can act as a precipitating factor for psychosis, as demonstrated by a case of a patient who experienced acute psychosis after meditation on two occasions. |
Abstract
Meditation is regarded as a self-regulation approach to manage emotions. Meditation has a beneficial effect on mental health. Different kinds of meditation are practiced in many religions and cultures for the general wellbeing of an individual. However, meditation-related experiences and negative effects of meditation are not uncommon. Meditation-induced psychosis has been reported in the past. Here, we present a case of a 33-year-old male patient who developed acute and transient psychosis twice after meditation and discuss the role of meditation as a precipitating factor to psychosis.