Comparing Effects of Intense Breathwork to Meditation on Altered States of Consciousness

NCT06916312 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ER/GF221/9
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the impact of high ventilation breathwork (HVB) and meditation on altered states of consciousness (ASCs). The study will compare the effects of a single guided HVB session to a single guided body scan meditation session. The primary aim is to explore the impact of HVB and meditation on ASCs, while secondary aims relate to mental health and wellbeing.

Conditions

Altered States of Consciousness; Wellbeing

Keywords

Breathwork

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Altered states of consciousness

  Five Dimensions of Altered States of Consciousness Scale. Comprises five subscales: oceanic boundlessness, dread of ego dissolution, visionary restructuralisation, auditory alterations and vigilance reduction. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more profound altered states of consciousness.

  Immediately after the intervention.

• Mystical experience

  Mystical Experience Questionnaire Brief. Comprises four subscales: transcendence, positive mood, ineffability, and mystical. Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating a more profound mystical experience.

  Immediately after the intervention.

• Emotional breakthrough

  Emotional Breakthrough Inventory. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater levels of emotional breakthrough (reflecting a better outcome).

  Immediately after the intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Psychological insight

  Post-intervention (one week after the intervention).

• Depersonalisation

  Immediately after the intervention.

• Fatigue

  Baseline and post-intervention (one week before and after the intervention).

• Sleep-related impairment

  Baseline and post-intervention (one week before and after the intervention).

• Mental wellbeing

  Baseline and post-intervention (one week before and after the intervention).

Other Outcomes (2)

• Psychedelic experience predictiveness

  After completing consent form to participate in the study.

• General experience

  One week post-intervention.

Study Arms (2)

Meditation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Single guided body scan meditation session.

Behavioral: Meditation

High ventilation breathwork

EXPERIMENTAL

Single guided conscious connected breathing session.

Behavioral: High ventilation breathwork

Interventions

High ventilation breathwork BEHAVIORAL

Single guided conscious connected breathing session.

Also known as: Conscious connected breathing

High ventilation breathwork

Meditation BEHAVIORAL

Single guided body scan meditation session.

Also known as: Body scan

Meditation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy adults in Brighton and the surrounding area
• Prior experience practising high ventilation breathwork in the form of conscious connected breathing
• No history of adverse events during such prior breathwork sessions.

You may not qualify if:

• History of hypotension
• Hypertension
• Respiratory or cardiovascular problems
• Fainting or syncope
• Epilepsy or seizures
• Panic disorder or panic attacks
• Cerebral aneurysm
• Pregnancy (and possibility one might be pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding)
• Breathlessness
• Bradypnea
• Tachypnoea
• Any mental/physical issues affecting the ability to engage in breath control activities.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Sussex: lead
• DMT Quest: collaborator
• ResearchHub: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Sussex

Brighton, Sussex, BN1 9RH, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Meditation; Whole Body Imaging

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Spiritual Therapies; Relaxation Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Diagnostic Imaging; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Investigative Techniques

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2025
• First Posted: April 8, 2025
• Study Start: February 17, 2025
• Primary Completion: June 8, 2025
• Study Completion: June 16, 2025
• Last Updated: June 18, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP

Locations

GB (1)