Classic Psychedelic Use and Current Meditation Practice
This survey study (n=2822) finds a correlation between lifetime classical psychedelic use (n=613) and a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation (but not compassion meditation) practice. When analysing psychological insight (an aspect of the acute psychedelic experience), a correlation with both types of meditation was found.
Authors
- Otto Simonsson
- Peter Hendricks
- Wojciech Osika
Published
Abstract
Objectives
Previous research has investigated potential synergies between classic psychedelics and meditation practice, but relatively little remains known about the relationship between classic psychedelic experiences and engagement with meditation practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between classic psychedelic experiences and engagement with two popular types of meditation: mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness or compassion meditation.
Method
This retrospective, population-based observational study included 2822 respondents aged 18 years or older in the United States. Using covariate-adjusted regression models, this study examined associations of classic psychedelic experiences with current practice of mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness or compassion meditation.
Results
In covariate-adjusted regression models, lifetime classic psychedelic use was associated with a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice but not current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Both psychological insight and “ego dissolution” were associated with a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice and current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice. Notably, when psychological insight and “ego dissolution” were entered into the regression model simultaneously, only greater psychological insight was associated with having a higher frequency of current mindfulness meditation practice and current loving-kindness or compassion meditation practice.
Conclusions
Although the findings in this study cannot demonstrate causality, they suggest that classic psychedelic experiences may exert a positive effect on the cultivation and maintenance of health-related behaviors such as regular meditation practice, with psychological insight appearing to be a stronger predictor than “ego dissolution.”
Research Summary of 'Classic Psychedelic Use and Current Meditation Practice'
Introduction
Previous research has suggested potential synergies between classic psychedelics and meditation practice, and has identified acute phenomenological features of psychedelic experiences—commonly labelled "ego dissolution" (reduced self-focus) and psychological insight (realizations about relationships, personality, or behaviour)—as relevant to mental health outcomes. Prior cross-sectional work found that greater ego dissolution during respondents' most intense classic psychedelic experience was associated with having tried meditation, lower perceived barriers to meditation among meditators, and a more frequent meditation practice. That earlier work did not, however, examine psychological insight as a predictor of meditation practice despite prior links between insight and other health behaviours such as diet and exercise. Simonsson and colleagues set out to examine associations between classic psychedelic experiences and current engagement with two common meditation practices: mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness/compassion meditation. Using a large, nationally stratified US sample, the study tested the hypothesis that greater psychological insight during an individual's most insightful classic psychedelic experience would be associated with more frequent current mindfulness and loving-kindness/compassion practice. An exploratory analysis compared the relative strength of psychological insight and ego dissolution as predictors of meditation practice.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Topics
- Authors
- APA Citation
Simonsson, C., Chambers, R., Hendricks, P. S., Goldberg, S. B., Osika, W., Schlosser, M., Ryde, A., Christersson, E., & Simonsson, O. (2023). Classic Psychedelic Use and Current Meditation Practice. Mindfulness, 14(4), 763-768. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-023-02103-w
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Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom
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Cited By (7)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Schlomberg, J. T. T., Meling, D., Grylka, R. et al. · Scientific Reports (2026)
Kugel, J., Laukkonen, R., Yaden, D. B. et al. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2025)
Meling, D., Egger, K., Aicher, H. D. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)
Jiwani, Z., Goldberg, S. B., Stroud, J. et al. · MedRvix (2024)
Berit, S., Meling, D., Hirsch-Hoffmann, M. et al. · Scientific Reports (2024)
Borkel, L. F., Rojas-Hernández, J., Henríquez-Hernández, L. A. et al. · Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology (2023)
Simonsson, O., Osika, W., Stenfors, C. U. D. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2023)
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