Mystical Experiences Without Psychedelics in Adults
This study is looking at whether a guided, non-drug spiritual intervention called Guided Invocation for Mystical Experience (GIME) can create mystical-type experiences and improve well-being in Christian adults. Researchers want to see if GIME leads to measurable mystical experiences and if participating in the intervention, along with an integration program, improves your well-being over time. They will compare a Christian-based integration program to a standard one. You can join if you are an adult aged 18 or older, have an active Christian faith, are willing to experience hypnosis, and can speak English. You cannot join if you have used psychedelics before or have a severe mental illness. The study aims to enroll 120 participants.
- Study design
- This is an interventional study with an unclear status, planning to enroll 120 healthy adult participants. It compares a Christian-based integration program to a structured control integration program.
- What's involved
- You will complete one in-person Guided Invocation for Mystical Experience (GIME) session. You will also have follow-up assessments at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after the intervention.
- Compensation
- Not stated in the trial record.
- Follow-up
- Participants will be followed for 2 months after the intervention to assess well-being.
AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.
Mystical Experiences Without Psychedelics and How Integration Improves Well-Being in Adults
At a glance
Conditions
NCT07584070
Where you'd take part
This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.
Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory
Waco, Texasstudy coordinator listed
Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.
Study leadership
- Gary Elkins, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Baylor University
Who to contact
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Inclusion
Exclusion
What this trial measures
- Frequency of a Complete Mystical Experience as Assessed by the Mystical Experience QuestionnaireImmediately following the in-person guided invocation for mystical experience session
Frequency of complete mystical experiences will be assessed using the 30-item Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30), a validated self-report measure designed to assess key phenomenological features of mystical-type experiences. The MEQ30 includes four empirically derived subscales: Mystical, Positive Mood, Transcendence of Time and Space, and Ineffability. Participants rate the extent to which each item describes their experience. Higher scores reflect greater endorsement of mystical-type features. To determine whether a participant had a complete mystical experience, scores will be calculated for each of the four subscales and expressed as a percentage of the maximum possible score for that subscale. A complete mystical experience is defined as meeting or exceeding 60% of the maximum possible score on all four MEQ30 subscales. The frequency of complete mystical experiences will then be calculated as the proportion of participants who meet this criteria.
- PERMA Well-Being ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The PERMA Well-Being Scale measures five dimensions of well-being-Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment-based on Martin Seligman's PERMA model. The scale contains 23 items, with 3-5 items per subdomain, scored on a Likert scale. Butler and Kern (2016) established the scale's internal consistency (α \> .80) and construct validity.
- Ryff Psychological Wellbeing ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Ryff Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWB) assesses six domains of well-being: autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relationships, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. It includes 42 items, scored on a Likert scale, with shorter versions available. Psychometric evaluation revealed high internal consistency (α \> .80) and test-retest reliability across diverse populations (Ryff \& Keyes, 1995). Example items include, "I like most parts of my personality" (self-acceptance) and "I am not afraid to voice my opinions, even when they are in opposition to most people" (autonomy).
- Multidimensional Existential Meaning ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS) measures existential meaning across three dimensions: coherence, purpose, and mattering. The scale consists of 15 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Higher scores indicate a greater sense of existential meaning. Psychometric evaluations by George and Park (2017) demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α \> .90) and robust construct validity. Example items include, "I understand how my life fits into the larger picture," "I feel that my life has a clear sense of purpose," and "I believe that my life is significant and matters." This scale is particularly suited for studies exploring the depth and breadth of meaning in individuals' lives.
- Flourishing ScaleBaseline, 1 months, and 2 months post-intervention
The Flourishing Scale measures social-psychological prosperity across eight items that assess areas such as self-esteem, purpose, and optimism. Items are rated on a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater well-being. Diener et al. (2010) demonstrated excellent internal consistency (α \> .85). An example item is, "I lead a purposeful and meaningful life." This concise yet comprehensive scale is widely used in studies of well-being interventions.
- Quality of Life Rating ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Quality of Life Rating Scale evaluates life satisfaction across physical, emotional, and social domains. The 16-item measure uses a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores reflecting better quality of life. Burckhardt and Anderson (2003) reported strong psychometric properties, including internal consistency (α \> .80). A sample item is, "To what degree do you feel your physical health limits your activities of daily living?"
- Spiritual Transcendence ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Spiritual Transcendence Scale measures the degree of an individual's sense of connectedness to a higher reality. The scale contains 24 items across three subdomains: prayer fulfillment (α = .85), universality (α = .85), and connectedness (α = .65). Piedmont (1999) reported good internal consistency on three subscales. Example items include, "I find strength in my religion or spirituality" (prayer fulfillment) and "I feel a sense of oneness with all humanity" (universality).
- Religious and Spiritual Struggles ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale (RSSS) measures the extent and nature of struggles individuals may have with their religion or spirituality. The scale includes 26 items and identifies six distinct domains of struggle: divine, demonic, interpersonal, moral, doubt, and ultimate meaning. Items are rated on a Likert scale, typically ranging from "not at all" to "a great deal," indicating the degree of struggle experienced. Exline et al. (2014) demonstrated strong internal consistency across subscales (α \> .80) and solid construct validity in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Sample items include, "I felt angry at God," "I struggled with feeling rejected or unloved by my religious community," and "I questioned whether my life really matters."
- Attachment to God ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Attachment to God Scale (AGS) assesses individual differences in the quality of one's relationship with God, conceptualized through the lens of attachment theory. The scale consists of 9 items measuring two core dimensions: Anxiety (e.g., fear of abandonment by God) and Avoidance (e.g., discomfort with closeness to God). Participants rate each item on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Higher scores on each subscale indicate greater attachment-related insecurity in the corresponding domain. Rowatt and Kirkpatrick (2002) demonstrated high internal consistency (α \> .85) for both subscales and strong construct validity, including associations with religious coping, mental health, and interpersonal relationships.
- Self-Compassion ScaleBaseline, 1 month, and 2 months post-intervention
The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is a 26 question self-report scale designed to measure kindness and understanding toward oneself in instances of pain or failure (Neff, 2003). It has six factors including self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and over-identification. The internal consistency was α = .92. A non-significant correlation of r = .05 (p = .34) was found between the SCS and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale. The SCS was also found to have good construct and discriminant validity as well as test-retest reliability (r = .93).