Differential relationship between meditation methods and psychotic-like and mystical experiences.
PLoS One December 5, 2024 Timothy Palmer, Kenza Kadri, Eric Fakra et al. 5 citations
A large online survey of 613 meditators found that certain meditation techniques are linked to more psychotic-like and mystical experiences, while others are linked to fewer psychotic-like experiences. Techniques aimed at reducing mental content, described as 'null-directed' or non-dual, were positively correlated with both psychotic-like and mystical experiences. In contrast, techniques aimed at enhancing cognitive states, described as 'attentional' or strongly embodied, were negatively correlated with psychotic-like experiences. Meditators who practiced for spiritual reasons tended to choose null-directed techniques and reported more psychotic-like experiences, while those who practiced for health reasons chose attentional techniques. Participants generally believed all techniques prevented psychotic-like experiences, but less so for null-directed methods.