Is Meditation Evidence-Based?
Introduction
As an act of advocacy and awareness building to our audience, we asked AI if meditation would be evidence-based according to the APA, this is what we got.
Data
Based on a report that WHI has produced, the American Psychological Association (APA) would not formally recognize meditation as an evidence-based practice.
Here’s why:
- Lack of Direct Empirical Evidence Meeting APA Standards: The APA’s criteria for evidence-based practice place significant emphasis on rigorous empirical literature, particularly evidence derived from quasi-experiments and, most stringently, randomized controlled experiments (RCTs). Studies that do not present the specific, systematic empirical data (e.g., controlled studies, detailed outcome measures, or meta-analyses of meditation studies) that the APA requires for formal endorsement of a treatment guideline are not considered and charged accordingly.
- Theoretical Integration vs. Direct Validation: The APA requires direct empirical validation of the specific intervention (meditation in this case) as a standalone or integrated treatment, demonstrating its efficacy through systematically collected data on intended outcomes, long-term consequences, and clinical significance.
Conclusion
In our conclusion, conceptually linking any practice that involves meditation is evidence-based because meditation has the ingredients and the mechanisms of actions to complete memory reconsolidation (O’Brien, 2023a; O’Brien, 2023b). The fact that they require the type of rigorous, independently verifiable empirical data that the APA mandates for formal recognition of a practice as evidence-based is why the APA needs to be checked by their apophenic addictions to perfectionism, altruism, and ambition based on the historical qualitative lived experience of those who have been the victims of their righteous abuse for long enough.
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References
O’Brien, A. (2023a). Addiction as Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Phenomenological Investigation of the Addictive State. International University of Graduate Studies. (Dissertation). Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/
O’Brien, A. (2023b). Memory Reconsolidation in Psychedelics Therapy. In Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/courses/addiction-as-dissociation-model-course/
O’Brien, A. (2023c). Path of the Wounded Healer: A Dissociative-Focused Phase Model for Normative and Pathological States of Consciousness: Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/
O’Brien, A. (2024a). Healer and Healing: The re-education of the healer and healing professions as an advocation. Re-educational and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/
O’Brien, A. (2024e). Path of the Wounded Healers for Thrivers: Perfectionism, Altruism, and Ambition Addictions; Re-education and training manual for Abusers, Activists, Batterers, Bullies, Enablers, Killers, Narcissists, Offenders, Parents, Perpetrators, and Warriors. Re-Education and Training Manual and Guide. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/
O’Brien, A. (2025). American Made Addiction Recovery: a healer’s journey through professional recovery. Albany, NY: Wounded Healers Institute. Retrieved at woundedhealersinstitute.org/
*This is for informational and educational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
