From the Guidelines
Mindfulness practices can have potential adverse effects, including anxiety, depression, dissociation, and even psychosis in vulnerable individuals, and to mitigate these risks, it is essential to start with brief, guided sessions and practice with qualified instructors. The potential adverse effects of mindfulness can be mitigated by taking a cautious and gradual approach to mindfulness practice. According to 1, mindfulness-based interventions have been associated with improvements in physical and mental health outcomes, including improved depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, quality of life, physical functioning, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical activity. However, it is crucial to recognize that mindfulness can sometimes cause harm for certain individuals, particularly those with a history of trauma, mental health conditions, or psychosis.
To minimize the risks associated with mindfulness practice, it is recommended to:
- Start with brief, guided sessions (5-10 minutes) rather than intensive retreats or long meditations
- Practice with qualified instructors who can recognize warning signs and provide appropriate guidance
- Consult with a mental health professional before beginning mindfulness practices if you have a history of trauma, mental health conditions, or psychosis
- Pay attention to your body's signals during meditation and stop immediately if you experience increased anxiety, racing thoughts, or dissociation
- Use grounding techniques like feeling your feet on the floor or holding a cold object if you experience distressing thoughts or sensations
- Integrate mindfulness gradually into your routine rather than diving into intensive practices
As noted in 1, mindfulness-related interventions in patients with existing heart disease have led to benefits in physical and mental health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, physical activity, and blood pressure. However, it is essential to prioritize caution and carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of mindfulness practice, particularly for vulnerable individuals. Alternative practices like gentle yoga, walking meditation, or brief body scans may be more appropriate starting points than traditional sitting meditation for some individuals, as suggested in 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Potential Adverse Effects of Mindfulness
- Meditation-related adverse effects (MRAEs) with negative valences or negative impacts on functioning can occur in individuals practicing mindfulness, with 58% of participants in one study reporting such effects 2
- Lasting bad effects can occur in 6-14% of participants, associated with signs of dysregulated arousal (hyperarousal and dissociation) 2
- Mindfulness practices may promote alienation among psychologically vulnerable people, such as those with low self-regulatory abilities 3
- Transient distress and negative impacts can occur at similar rates to other psychological treatments 2
Mitigating Adverse Effects
- Program-related factors, participant-related factors, and clinician- or teacher-related factors can contribute to harm in mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) and require further study 4
- Greater conceptual clarity is needed to facilitate more systematic research and enable interpretation of existing findings on potential harm in MBPs 4
- Recommendations for future research and for protecting participants in MBPs from harm include careful attention to the potential for harm and systematic study of adverse effects 4
- Mindfulness interventions should be tailored to the individual's needs and abilities, with consideration of potential risks and benefits 5