Unwanted effects during or after meditation practice, most often anxiety and low mood, are reported in a minority of practitioners, at an estimated overall rate of about 8 percent across studies, lower in experimental studies than in observational ones; in a 2026 trial of a digital programme such experiences were about as common in participants who did not meditate, so not every reported effect is caused by the practice.
Low certainty
Further research is likely to change this.Who this is about
adults practising meditation, including in meditation-based programmes
Practical note
Graded low: pooled from 83 heterogeneous studies (experimental, observational and case reports) with inconsistent harm monitoring; the estimate was 3.7 percent in experimental studies and 33.2 percent in observational studies. NCCIH notes the overall rate is similar to that reported for psychological therapies. Two 2026 trials of a self-guided app in distressed adults found that 10 to 28 percent reported at least one adverse experience, and in the larger, preregistered trial the rate was similar whether or not participants completed the guided meditations; one author founded the nonprofit behind the app.
Safety note
Adverse events have been reported in people with no previous history of mental health problems. Participants who feel worse during a programme can pause and speak with the teacher or a health professional; people living with a mental health condition are generally advised to discuss a programme with their health professional first.
Sources
- Supports “The total prevalence of adverse events was 8.3% (95% CI 0.05-0.12), though this varied considerably across types of studies” (Abstract) Farias M, Maraldi E, Wallenkampf KC, Lucchetti G. 2020. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Adverse events in meditation practices and meditation-based therapies: a systematic review. publisher copyright; metadata and short quotes only; Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Supports “The researchers concluded that about 8 percent of participants had a negative effect from practicing meditation, which is similar to the percentage reported for psychological therapies.” (Are meditation and mindfulness practices safe?) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. NCCIH. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. public domain; credit NCCIH
- Context “may occur in individuals with no previous history of mental health problems” (Abstract, Conclusion) Farias M, Maraldi E, Wallenkampf KC, Lucchetti G. 2020. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. Adverse events in meditation practices and meditation-based therapies: a systematic review. publisher copyright; metadata and short quotes only; Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Context “AExs were relatively common but occurred at comparable rates among participants who did and did not meditate, challenging claims that such experiences were caused by meditation practice in distressed individuals.” (Abstract, Conclusions) Beloborodova P, Smith LM, Riordan KM, Simonsson O, Dottori LT, Song HQ, Shashko NS, Tatar R, Baldwin SA, Bernstein A, Dunne JD, Davidson RJ, Hirshberg MJ, Goldberg SB. 2026. JMIR Mental Health. Prevalence and Predictors of Self-Reported Adverse Experiences in Digital Meditation Training: 2 Randomized Controlled Trials. CC BY (as listed by Europe PMC); credit Beloborodova et al., JMIR Mental Health; Courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine