NUMINOUS adj. /ˈnuːmɪnəs/ A term derived from the Latin numen, meaning "arousing spiritual emotion; mysterious or awe-inspiring."

The Healing Power of Mystical Experiences

Article Title: “Examining Mystical Experiences as a Predictor of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression”

Author: Ryan M. Brudner, Erica Kaczmarek, Marc G. Blainey, Christian Schulz-Quach, Shakila Meshkat, Zoe Doyle, Orly Lipsitz, Hilary Offman, Rickinder Sethi, Geneva Weiglein, Roger S. McIntyre, and Joshua D. Rosenblat

Publication Date: 2025

DOI: 10.1177/02698811251346697

Background

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has emerged as a compelling treatment for conditions like treatment-resistant depression (TRD), bipolar II disorder, anxiety, substance use, and trauma. The effects of psilocybin extend beyond chemical brain changes, often invoking profound “mystical experiences”, which are moments of deep unity, transcendence, and emotional intensity. While these experiences have been linked to positive mental health outcomes, their predictive role in clinical settings remains a subject of ongoing inquiry.

Study Overview

This study examined 31 individuals diagnosed with either major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar II disorder (BDII), all of whom had shown resistance to traditional treatments. Participants underwent one to three sessions of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy with a fixed 25mg dose. Their depressive symptoms were measured before and after treatment using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and mystical experiences were assessed using the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30), completed after each session once the acute effects subsided.

Key Findings

Dose 1: Mystical experiences significantly predicted improvement in depressive symptoms. A higher MEQ-30 score was associated with greater symptom reduction (β = −0.387, p = 0.026).
Doses 2 and 3: No statistically significant correlation was found between mystical experiences and symptom change, possibly due to smaller sample sizes and less variability in responses.
Mystical Frequency: 28.6% of participants had a “complete mystical experience” at Dose 1, increasing to 47.1% at Dose 2 and 60% at Dose 3 among those who continued treatment.

Discussion

The results reinforce prior research that suggests mystical experiences can play a vital therapeutic role, particularly at the start of treatment. The impact may diminish over time due to reduced novelty or ceiling effects. Interestingly, once a participant had a complete mystical experience, they were more likely to have another in subsequent sessions. While the MEQ-30 captures only part of the psychedelic journey, it offers valuable insight into the nature of these transformative sessions.

Implications

This study provides growing support for the idea that mystical experiences are not just pleasant side effects but could be central to the therapeutic power of psilocybin. For retreat facilitators and therapists, this suggests value in creating supportive settings that foster such experiences through music, setting, therapeutic preparation, and integration. It also invites a deeper dialogue between clinical science and spiritual practice, recognising the power of meaning and transcendence in healing.

Potential Application

This research highlights the importance of nurturing profound, mystical-type experiences during initial sessions. Carefully structured environments that promote openness, emotional safety, and spiritual exploration may enhance outcomes for guests facing depression. It also encourages retreat providers to adopt evidence-based assessments like the MEQ-30 to track outcomes and tailor integration support based on the depth of a guest’s psychedelic journey.

Conclusions

Mystical experiences during psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy may be key to unlocking its antidepressant potential, especially during a participant’s first experience. While more research is needed to fully understand the dose-response relationship, this study provides robust preliminary evidence that what someone feels during their trip matters as much as what’s in the capsule.

Reference:

Brudner, R. M., Kaczmarek, E., Blainey, M. G., Schulz-Quach, C., Meshkat, S., Doyle, Z., Lipsitz, O., Offman, H., Sethi, R., Weiglein, G., McIntyre, R. S., & Rosenblat, J. D. (2025). Examining mystical experiences as a predictor of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1177/02698811251346697

The Healing Power of Mystical Experiences