Meditation as a Therapy or a Threat: A Case Series
Author Information
Author(s): Muacevic Alexander, Adler John R, Singh Amrendra K, Pathak Umesh, Kaur Partik, Dhakad Rashmi
Hypothesis
Can meditation lead to psychiatric illnesses in some individuals?
Conclusion
The study found that intense meditation practices may precipitate psychiatric symptoms in some individuals.
Supporting Evidence
- All patients had a history of intense meditation just before the onset of psychiatric symptoms.
- Only one patient had a past history of psychiatric disorders.
- Symptoms improved after stopping meditation and receiving treatment.
Takeaway
Some people can get really sick after doing a lot of meditation, even though most people find it helpful.
Methodology
This is a case series of seven patients who developed psychiatric symptoms after intense meditation.
Potential Biases
Information was primarily based on patients' and caregivers' accounts, which may not accurately reflect meditation practices.
Limitations
The study cannot definitively prove that meditation caused the psychosis due to confounding factors like sensory deprivation and sleep loss.
Participant Demographics
Participants included both males and females aged 21 to 44, with varying backgrounds and no significant prior psychiatric history.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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