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Cited by 637Psychedelics and Drug StudiesParanormal Experiences and BeliefsReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Validation of the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire in experimental sessions with psilocybin

Open access
Barrett, Frederick S, Johnson, Matthew W, Griffiths, Roland R·2015·Journal of Psychopharmacology
DOI 10.1177/0269881115609019PMC PMC5203697
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Abstract

The 30-item revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) was previously developed within an online survey of mystical-type experiences occasioned by psilocybin-containing mushrooms. The rated experiences occurred on average eight years before completion of the questionnaire. The current paper validates the MEQ30 using data from experimental studies with controlled doses of psilocybin. Data were pooled and analyzed from five laboratory experiments in which participants ( n=184) received a moderate to high oral dose of psilocybin (at least 20 mg/70 kg). Results of confirmatory factor analysis demonstrate the reliability and internal validity of the MEQ30. Structural equation models demonstrate the external and convergent validity of the MEQ30 by showing that latent variable scores on the MEQ30 positively predict persisting change in attitudes, behavior, and well-being attributed to experiences with psilocybin while controlling for the contribution of the participant-rated intensity of drug effects. These findings support the use of the MEQ30 as an efficient measure of individual mystical experiences. A method to score a “complete mystical experience” that was used in previous versions of the mystical experience questionnaire is validated in the MEQ30, and a stand-alone version of the MEQ30 is provided for use in future research.

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  • The Revised MEQ30 was developed by MacLean et al. (2012) from analyses of retrospective online surveys of mystical experiences occasioned by recreative use of psychedelics, assessed with the original MEQ-43.

    “One such is the Revised MEQ30, developed by MacLean et al. (2012) (MacLean et al., 2012) from analyses of retrospective online surveys of mystical experiences occasioned by recreative use of psychedelics, assessed with the original MEQ-43 (Barrett et al., 2015; MacLean et al., 2012).”

    From Assessment of the acute subjective psychedelic experience: A review of patient-reported outcome measures in clinical research on classical psychedelics (2024) · cites this paper as Barrett et al., 2015

    The Introduction says MacLean et al. (2012) developed the MEQ30 through factor analysis of retrospective online accounts of experiences with psilocybin-containing mushrooms, using items from the MEQ43. It describes those experiences as occurring under uncontrolled conditions, but does not establish that the use was recreational or that the surveys covered psychedelics beyond psilocybin-containing mushrooms. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • PM scored >60% on each of the seven subscales of the mystical experience questionnaire, indicating a complete mystical experience.

    “she scored >60% on each of the seven subscales of the mystical experience questionnaire, indicating a “complete mystical experience” (20)”

    From Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine dependence: a case report involving daily methamphetamine use (2024) · cites this paper as [20]

  • According to MEQ-30, 11 of 14 participants (78%) reported a complete mystical experience, defined as achieving at least 60% of maximum score in each subdomain.

    “According to the MEQ-30, 11 of 14 participants (78%) reported a 'complete mystical experience', defined as achieving at least 60% of the maximum score in each subdomain [50] (Figure 4).”

    From Psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder: A pilot open‐label safety and feasibility study. (2025) · cites this paper as [50]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Pahnke WN 1963 Drugs and Mysticism: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Psychedelic Drugs and the Mystical Consciousness Cambridge, MA Harvard University Press

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Authors
Barrett, F. S., Johnson, M. W., & Griffiths, R. R.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Barrett, Frederick S
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2015-10-06
Volume
29
Issue
11
Pages
1182-1190
ISSN
  • 0269-8811 (ISSN-L)
  • 1461-7285
DOI
10.1177/0269881115609019
PMC
PMC5203697
OpenAlex
W2340085151
Cited by
637
References
34
Citations by year
2026: 91 · 2025: 110 · 2024: 123 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 78 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 12
FWCI
21.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA003889, T32DA007209, R01DA03889)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
psilocybin, mystical experience, psychedelic drug effects, questionnaire validation, factor structure, convergent validity, attitude change, well-being
MeSH terms
Administration, Oral, Hallucinogens, Humans, Mysticism, Psilocybin, Surveys and Questionnaires

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