Mystical Experiences in Retrospective Reports of First Times Using a Psychedelic in Finland
This study (n=288) validated the Revised Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ30) in Finnish. The study found mystical experiences to be associated with positive changes in relationship with nature, oneself, and creativity, with more common mystical experiences at higher dosages.
Authors
- Kangaslampi, S.
- Hausen, A.
- Rauteenmaa, T.
Published
Abstract
Despite their acutely inebriating and sometimes unpleasant effects, some people report positive changes in life satisfaction, well-being, or mental health after taking psychedelic drugs. One explanation may be the ability of psychedelics to trigger mystical-type experiences. We examined the validity, reliability, and factor structure of a novel Finnish translation of the Revised Mystical Experiences Questionnaire (MEQ30) among 288 people retrospectively reporting on their first time using a psychedelic. We found evidence for internal consistency reliability and preliminary evidence for criterion and discriminant validity of the Finnish MEQ30. A four-factor structure with factors for mystical qualities, positive mood, transcendence, and ineffability had the best, fair to reasonable fit to the data. MEQ30 scores and having a full mystical experience were highly associated with describing the experience as mystical, spiritual, or religious, and as personally significant, and somewhat associated with the experience being sad or difficult. Mystical experiences were especially associated with positive changes in relationships with nature and oneself and in creativity. Mystical experiences were more common with larger doses. Increasing research suggests mystical-type experiences to relate to positive changes after taking psychedelics. The Finnish MEQ30 is able to tap into relevant information about this aspect of people’s psychedelic experiences.
Research Summary of 'Mystical Experiences in Retrospective Reports of First Times Using a Psychedelic in Finland'
Introduction
Classic psychedelic drugs produce marked acute alterations in perception, cognition, mood and self-experience, effects that can be experienced as uplifting or as frightening and challenging. Earlier research has reported possible longer-term benefits after psychedelic use — for example in well-being, mood, attitudes, and some clinical conditions — and one prominent explanatory hypothesis is that psychedelics sometimes occasion mystical-type experiences similar to those described by religious mystics or meditators. Instruments such as the 43-item Mystical Experiences Questionnaire and its revised 30-item version (MEQ30) have been developed to quantify these phenomena, and previous factor-analytic work on the MEQ30 has suggested a four-factor structure (mystical nature, positive mood, transcendence, ineffability).
Expert Research Summaries
Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.
Full Text PDF
Full Paper PDF
Create a free account to open full-text PDFs.
Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Topic
- APA Citation
Kangaslampi, S., Hausen, A., & Rauteenmaa, T. (2020). Mystical Experiences in Retrospective Reports of First Times Using a Psychedelic in Finland. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 52(4), 309-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1767321
References (33)
Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom
Barrett, F. S., Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Bogenschutz, M. P., Forcehimes, A. A., Pommy, J. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Bouso, J. C., González, D., Fondevila, S. et al. · PLOS ONE (2012)
Carbonaro, T. M., Bradstreet, M. P., Barrett, F. S. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, &. M., Day, C. M. J. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2017)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Kaelen, M., Bolstridge, M. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2016)
Davis, A. K., So, S., Lancelotta, R. et al. · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (2019)
Kirchner, K. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2014)
Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)
Show all 33 referencesShow fewer
Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W., Richards, W. A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2011)
Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2008)
Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., Mccann, U. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2006)
Grob, C. S., Danforth, A. L., Chopra, G. S. et al. · JAMA Psychiatry (2011)
Haijen, E. C. H. M., Kaelen, M., Roseman, L. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018)
Hasler, F., Grimberg, U., Benz, M. A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2004)
Hendricks, P. S., Thorne, C. B., Clark, B. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Johansen, P. Ø., Krebs, T. S. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Krebs, T. S., Johansen, P. ˚. Ø. · PLOS ONE (2013)
Kuypers, K. P. C., Riba, &. J., De La Fuente Revenga, &. M. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2016)
Maclean, K. A., Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2011)
MacLean, K. A., Leoutsakos, J. S., Johnson, M. W. et al. · Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (2012)
Mason, N. L., Mischler, E., Uthaug, M. V. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2019)
Nour, M. R., Evans, J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2017)
Pahnke, W. N. · Psychedelic Review (1969)
Palhano-Fontes, F., Barreto, D., Onias, H. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2018)
Roseman, L., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018)
Ross, S., Bossis, A. P., Guss, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Schmid, Y., Liechti, M. E. · Psychopharmacology (2017)
Strassman, R. J. · Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (1984)
Uthaug, M. V., Lancelotta, R., van Oorsouw, K. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2019)
Uthaug, M. V., Van Oorsouw, &. K., Kuypers, &. K. P. C. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2018)
Wittmann, M., Carter, O., Hasler, F. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2007)
Cited By (11)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Bouso, J. C., Révész, D., Ona, G. et al. · Scientific Reports (2023)
Romeo, B., Fauvel, B., Verroust, V. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2023)
Luke, D., Gandy, S., Irvine, A. et al. · Psychoactives (2023)
Kangaslampi, S. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2023)
Forstmann, M., Kettner, H. S., Sagioglou, C. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2023)
Herrmann, Z., Earleywine, M., De Leo, J. et al. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)
Ruffell, S. G. D., Gandy, S., Tsang, W. et al. · Psyarxiv (2022)
Forstmann, M., Sagioglou, C. · European Psychologist (2022)
Gandy, S. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2022)
Aday, J. S., Davis, A. K., Mitzkovitz, C. M. et al. · ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science (2021)
Show all 11 papersShow fewer
Gandy, S., Forstmann, M., Carhart-Harris, R. L. et al. · Health Psychology Open (2020)
Your Personal Research Library
Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.