Meditation-induced psychosis Author: Kuijpers HJ, van der Heijden FM, Tuinier S, Verhoeven WM. Affiliation: Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, The Netherlands Conference/Journal: Psychopathology. Date published: 2007 Other: Volume ID: 40 , Issue ID: 6 , Pages: 461-4 , Word Count: 142 BACKGROUND: Meditation is a self-regulatory psychological strategy that is frequently applied in Western as well as non-Western countries for different purposes; little is known about adverse events. SAMPLING AND METHODS: A male patient is described who developed an acute and transient psychosis with polymorphic symptomatology after meditating. A literature search for psychotic states related to meditation was carried out on PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo. RESULTS: In the case presented a diagnosis of acute polymorphic psychotic disorder was made. Other case reports dealt with either a relapse of a pre-existent psychotic disorder or with a brief psychotic reaction in patients without a psychiatric history. CONCLUSION: Meditation can act as a stressor in vulnerable patients who may develop a transient psychosis with polymorphic symptomatology. The syndrome is not culture bound but sometimes classified in culture-bound taxonomies like Qi-gong Psychotic Reaction. 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel