Are there adverse effects associated with mindfulness?

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 51(10) Mindfulness is advocated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, American Psychiatric Association and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists for treating specific psychiatric disorders in adults (Shonin et al., 2014a). However, despite its growing popularity, there is concern and uncertainty as to whether there are health risks associated with mindfulness. Such concerns form part of what has been termed the ‘mindfulness backlash’ or ‘McMindfulness’ movement that has involved ongoing inquisitorial debate in the mass media (e.g. BBC, Guardian, Huffington Post, Independent, Telegraph, Waikato Times, Washington Post), trade/weekly journals (e.g. Lifehack, Salon, The Daily Good, The Spectator), practitioner journals (e.g. The Psychologist, Psychology Today, PsychCentral) and academic journals (e.g. Advances in Mind Body Medicine, British Journal of General Practice, Clinical Practice, Journal of Counselling and Development, Mindfulness, Mindfulness and Compassion, Self and Society). More specifically, such concerns have arisen pursuant to an increasing number of empirical and anecdotal reports that participation in a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) has led to (e.g.) executive memory impairments, depersonalisation, asociality, panic attacks, psychotic episodes, addiction (i.e. to mindfulness) and/or impaired reality testing. This paper briefly appraises the evidential quality of these reports, identifies factors that appear to exacerbate the risks of mindfulness and makes recommendations for safe clinical implementation.