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Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study

Summary

This study of over 13,000 people examined how using psychedelics relates to meditation practices. Researchers found that people who used psychedelics during the study period increased their meditation practice more than those who didn’t. Importantly, people who already had higher levels of mindfulness and self-compassion before using psychedelics had less difficult experiences during their use. However, among people who were already meditating regularly, psychedelic use was linked to more difficulties during meditation.

Background

Recent research has demonstrated promise for both psychedelics and meditation as therapeutic interventions for mental health. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding how psychedelic experiences and meditation practices influence one another, particularly with respect to the psychological qualities they cultivate such as mindfulness and self-compassion.

Objective

This longitudinal observational study investigated associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables in a large sample of US adults. The study examined whether psychedelic use was associated with changes in meditation practice and whether baseline meditation qualities predicted less severe psychedelic experiences.

Results

Psychedelic use was associated with greater increases in both mindfulness and loving-kindness/compassion meditation practice days per week. Higher baseline trait mindfulness and self-compassion were associated with less severe challenging psychedelic experiences and lower odds of self-harm or harm-to-others thoughts. Among baseline meditators, psychedelic use was associated with increases in loving-kindness/compassion meditation-related difficulties.

Conclusion

The study suggests bidirectional associations between psychedelic use and meditation practice, with trait mindfulness and self-compassion appearing protective against severe psychedelic experiences. However, psychedelic use among established meditators may increase meditation-related difficulties, warranting further investigation of mechanisms and moderating factors in naturalistic settings.
  • Published in:Journal of Psychiatric Research,
  • Study Type:Longitudinal Observational Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40133019, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.03.025
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