Both mindfulness meditation-based interventions and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies reduce PTSD symptoms in adults with moderate effect sizes. Mindfulness interventions showed a standardized mean difference of 0.45, while psychedelic therapies showed 0.54. MDMA-assisted therapy produced slightly stronger outcomes than ketamine. Psychedelic studies had tighter confidence intervals and lower risk of bias than mindfulness trials. Psychedelic therapies may yield a marginally larger effect, but mindfulness interventions are easier to disseminate. Future research should examine long-term efficacy, adverse events, and diverse populations, and investigate altered states of consciousness as a shared therapeutic mechanism.
A systematic review of 13 studies on self-induced cognitive trance (SICT) and related states shows consistent increases in theta brainwave power and modulations of alpha/beta bands, along with reorganizations in default mode and fronto-parietal networks, accompanied by heightened absorption, vivid mental imagery, and reduced hypervigilance. Gamma band findings were less consistent. A proof-of-concept EEG recording with three expert practitioners using a portable 5-electrode headset confirmed marked theta increases in all participants, with a clear gamma rise in only one. Theta appears to be a robust marker of trance states, while gamma modulations are more idiosyncratic. Portable EEG feasibility opens avenues for self-regulation protocols complementing trauma-focused psychotherapy.