This survey (n=536) showcases a possible synergy between meditation and psychedelic use. Those who experienced ego dissolution also found meditation to be more effective, which also served as lowering the barrier to meditation and motivation to practice it. Those who meditated (about half of the original larger survey) also were more likely to use psychedelics and experience ego dissolution.
Abstract
“There are neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between psychedelic and meditative states, but there is little evidence on how exposure to psychedelics might be associated with meditation-related variables. We assessed lifetime classic psychedelic use, ego dissolution during one’s most intense experience using a classic psychedelic, and exposure to meditation in a representative sample (n = 953) of American adults. Those who reported experience with meditation were invited to complete a follow-up survey (n = 536, 92.1% response rate) measuring meditation-related variables. Models controlled for a range of potential confounds. Exposure to meditation was associated with lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution in covariate-adjusted models. In addition, among meditators, greater ego dissolution was associated with more frequent meditation practice. Both lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution were associated with enlightenment as motivation to practice meditation as well as lower likelihood of overall perceived barriers to meditation practice. Ego dissolution was positively associated with finding meditation more effective. Neither lifetime classic psychedelic use nor ego dissolution was associated with greater likelihood of meditation-related adverse effects. Taken together, results support potential synergy between psychedelics and meditation, but randomized controlled trials are necessary to establish safety and evaluate potential causal relationships.”
Authors: Otto Simonsson & Simon B. Goldberg
Summary
We assessed the associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use, ego dissolution during one’s most intense experience using a classic psychedelic, and exposure to meditation in a representative sample of American adults. We found that greater ego dissolution was associated with more frequent meditation practice.
ARTICLE HISTORY
Psychedelics, meditation, mindfulness
Introduction
Over the past decades, there has been a dramatic reemergence of research into the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. This research has focused on classic psychedelics, such as DMT, ayahuasca, psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, and peyote.
There is some overlap between psychedelic-induced ego dissolution and experiences reported in the context of meditation practice, and it has been proposed that alterations in one’s experience of the self may be a causal mechanism underlying potential benefits of meditation practice.
Classic psychedelics may augment interest in and depth of meditation practice. However, it is still unclear whether individuals with lifetime exposure to classic psychedelics are more likely to have lifetime exposure to meditation, and whether meditators with and without lifetime classic psychedelic use show different patterns of engagement with meditation.
We used data from 953 adults in the US to investigate the associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution during one’s most intense experience using a classic psychedelic and various meditation-related variables.
Participants and procedure
The data for the present study were collected as part of a large-scale online survey of US residents over 18 years of age. 92.1% of those invited to complete the second part of the study completed it, with a mean age of 44 and 55.8% having a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Psychedelic-related variables
Response options included: ayahuasca, DMT, LSD, mescaline, peyote, psilocybin, also called “magic mushrooms”, other (please specify), never used a classic psychedelic, and other.
For participants endorsing lifetime use of classic psychedelics, we assessed ego dissolution during one’s most intense experience using a classic psychedelic using the highest loading item from the Ego Dissolution Inventory.
Meditation-related variables
Participants were assessed on lifetime exposure to meditation using a single item, and were given the option to select all applicable responses.
Participants who reported experience with meditation were asked to select their current type of meditation practice. They were then categorized into Buddhist, Hindu, Spiritual, Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qi Gong, and Other type of meditation.
Participants reported various reasons for practicing meditation, including physical health, mental health, social, cultural, or religious identity, and enlightenment.
All participants completed the 12-item Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory-Revised (DMPI-R), which assessed perceived benefit, knowledge, and pragmatic barriers to meditation practice. The internal consistency for all three subscales and total score was adequate.
Participants who reported experience with meditation had higher scores on the 11-item Experiences Questionnaire – Decentering subscale (EQ – Decentering), indicating greater decentering skills.
We used the 11-item Meditation-Related Adverse Effects Scale – Mindfulness-Based Program to assess meditation-related adverse effects and found that low rates of most response options ( 5%) were dichotomized and a total score computed across the 10 specific adverse effects items.
Participants were asked if they had experienced challenging, difficult, or distressing experiences as a result of their meditation practice, and if so, how long the experiences had impaired their ability to function.
Covariates
We controlled for demographic and other covariates that may confound potential associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and meditation-related variables. These covariates included age, sex, educational attainment, and lifetime use of cocaine and alcohol.
Statistical analyses
We used linear and logistic regression models to examine associations between meditation-related variables and lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution during one’s most intense experience using a classic psychedelic.
Results
Lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with lifetime exposure to meditation, and ego dissolution was also associated with lifetime exposure to meditation. However, neither psychedelic use nor ego dissolution were associated with current use of other types of meditation.
Current motivation for meditation practice was associated with lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution, but not with other motivations such as physical health, part of social, cultural, or religious identity, or general spiritual.
Lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution were associated with lower likelihood of perceived barriers to meditation practice, but not with lower likelihood of perceived barriers related to knowledge.
Ego dissolution was associated with perceived efficacy of meditation practice, but not with likelihood of feeling glad to have practiced meditation.
Contrary to the possibility that classic psychedelic use is associated with higher likelihood of meditation-related adverse effects, ego dissolution was not associated with total score of meditation-related adverse effects, lifetime occurrence of adverse effects, or functional impairment.
Discussion
The current study examined associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use and meditation practice in a population-based sample. It found that lifetime exposure to meditation was associated with lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution during one’s most intense experience using a classic psychedelic.
A divergent association emerged between lifetime classic psychedelic use and mental health motivation, but not with enlightenment motivation.
Psychedelic-related variables were consistently associated with perceived barriers to meditation practice. Specifically, meditators with lifetime classic psychedelic use or greater ego dissolution tended to report lower barriers to meditation.
We did not observe any associations between lifetime classic psychedelic use or ego dissolution and feeling glad to have practiced meditation, but ego dissolution was associated with finding meditation more effective.
There was no association between lifetime classic psychedelic use and ego dissolution and meditation-related adverse effects. However, a greater sample size and more intensive meditation practice are needed to determine whether combining meditation and classic psychedelics confers increased risk for adverse effects.
The present findings are novel, but the sample’s political representativeness could not be determined, and the percentage of participants who reported lifetime classic psychedelic use was higher than the prevalence in the US found in recent investigations using the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The survey did not ask respondents to describe the set and setting of their use of classic psychedelics.
The effects of meditation practice on psychedelic use have been interpreted differently across respondents, and causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectional design.