First, do no harm: An intensive experience sampling study of adverse effects to mindfulness training

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mindfulness Research

Background:

• Limited research exists on the safety and adverse effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs).
• Understanding adverse responses to mindfulness meditation is crucial for clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the frequency, severity, and context of adverse effects during and after mindfulness meditation practice.
• To propose and utilize a novel reliable change index (RCI) approach for experience sampling (ES) data.

Main Methods:

• A 21-day MBI was administered to 82 meditation-naïve participants.
• Experience sampling (ES) data were collected to assess momentary and sustained adverse effects.
• Reliable Change Index (RCI) analyses were applied to ES data.

Main Results:

• 87% of participants reported momentary adverse effects during meditation, most commonly anxiety.
• 25% experienced sustained adverse effects in daily living post-intervention.
• Momentary meditation effects and pre-intervention vulnerability did not predict post-intervention adverse effects.

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness meditation can be transiently anxiogenic but is unlikely to cause objective harm.
• Deterioration in daily living post-intervention may be linked to increased internal state awareness.
• The RCI approach is a valuable tool for quantifying adverse effects in mental health interventions.