A recent study examined the effects of mindfulness-based programs on individuals with severe mental illness. It found that participants who underwent these programs were more likely to experience spiritual, blissful and unity experiences, insightfulness, disembodiment, and changed meanings up to a year later. The paper was published in PLOS ONE.
Mindfulness-based programs are designed to support mental health by encouraging present-moment awareness and fostering a non-judgmental attitude toward thoughts and emotions. These programs have consistently been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. By teaching individuals to observe their inner experiences without reacting impulsively, mindfulness builds emotional resilience and helps people respond to stress more effectively. Research suggests that regular mindfulness practice can increase self-awareness and improve overall well-being.
Mindfulness programs have gained global popularity, with significant portions of the population engaging in them. Surveys suggest that around 15% of adults in the United Kingdom and about 20% in Australia have participated in some form of mindfulness training. However, these surveys also reveal that mindfulness practice can evoke a wide range of experiences, some of which are not necessarily pleasant. In some cases, individuals have reported intense or disorienting experiences, including those that may temporarily impair their ability to function.
Given these varied outcomes, study author Julieta Galante and her colleagues sought to explore whether mindfulness-based programs could lead to altered states of consciousness—experiences that shift one’s perception of the self and the environment. They hypothesized that individuals practicing mindfulness might experience more of these altered states, but they did not expect them to be highly unpleasant or impairing, such as extreme terror or paralysis. Instead, they predicted that participants would report a range of such states and that positive altered states might reduce psychological distress, while negative ones could increase it.
An altered state of consciousness refers to “a short-lasting marked deviation in the subjective experience or psychological functioning of a normal individual from their usual waking consciousness.” These states can include a variety of experiences, such as a dissolving sense of self (ego dissolution), disembodiment (the feeling of being detached from one’s body), sensory changes, impaired cognitive function, intense emotions, or shifts in how one interprets their surroundings (changed meanings). Such states can occur during meditation, deep relaxation, or even during mundane activities.
The participants in the study were University of Cambridge students who were not experiencing any severe mental or physical health issues. They were divided into two cohorts—342 students in October 2015 and 274 students in January 2016. Out of these 616 participants, only 205 students completed the follow-up questionnaires used in this specific analysis.
The study design randomly assigned students to one of two groups. One group took part in an eight-week mindfulness program called Mindfulness Skills for Students, which was specifically adapted for the university context. The program included weekly sessions lasting 75 to 90 minutes, taught by a trained mindfulness teacher in small groups of up to 30 students. The other group of students received the usual mental health support available at the university but did not participate in the mindfulness course.
The data for this study came from questionnaires completed by the students one year after their initial treatment. These questionnaires included the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale, which asked about experiences such as disembodiment and unity. In addition, students completed assessments of psychological distress both before the program and one year later. Throughout the follow-up period, participants were also asked to report on their mindfulness practices at home, including both formal meditation (such as sitting meditation) and informal mindfulness (such as mindful walking or eating).
The results showed that students who participated in the mindfulness-based program reported more frequent and intense experiences of unity, where they felt a sense of oneness with their surroundings. These students were also more likely to experience disembodiment, a feeling of detachment from the physical body, compared to students who received only standard mental health support.
Further analysis revealed that formal mindfulness practice—structured meditation exercises—was associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing spiritual, blissful, and unity states, as well as insightfulness, disembodiment, and altered meanings of perceptions. In contrast, informal mindfulness practice, such as integrating mindfulness into daily activities, was specifically linked to feelings of unity and bliss.
These findings suggest a potential causal relationship between mindfulness practice and altered states of consciousness. As the study authors noted, “Results provide a novel suggestion of causal links between mindfulness practice and specific altered states of consciousness. To optimize their impact, practitioners and teachers need to anticipate and handle them appropriately.”
The study sheds light on the effects of mindfulness-training on altered states of consciousness. However, the data relied entirely on self-reported experiences, which means that participants’ memories or interpretations of their experiences could have influenced the results. Moreover, only 205 of the 616 students who initially enrolled in the study completed the altered states questionnaire, which could introduce bias if the students who did not complete the questionnaire had different experiences than those who did.
Additionally, while the study found associations between mindfulness practice and altered states, it did not explore the underlying mechanisms that might explain why these experiences occur. Future research could investigate how mindfulness affects brain activity and consciousness to better understand the pathways through which altered states arise.
The paper, “Altered states of consciousness caused by a mindfulness-based programme up to a year later: Results from a randomised controlled trial,” was authored by Julieta Galante, Jesus Montero-Marin, Maris VainreI, Ge´raldine Dufour, Javier Garcı´a-Campayo, and Peter B. Jones.
