Title & Introduction

  • Paper Title: Assessment of Psychedelic-Induced States: Norwegian Translation and Adaptation of the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30)
  • Published In: Journal of Psychedelic Studies
  • Publish Date: July 12, 2024
  • Authors: Kristoffer Andreas Aamodt Andersen, Bjørn Holmøy, Lowan Han Stewart
  • Objective: To translate and adapt the revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ-30) into Norwegian, ensuring cultural and linguistic appropriateness for future psychedelic research in Norway.
  • Importance: With the rise of psychedelic research in Scandinavian countries, it is essential to have validated Norwegian-language assessment tools to study psychedelic-induced mystical experiences in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

Summary & Takeaways

Key Takeaway:
The Norwegian version of the MEQ-30 has been successfully translated and culturally adapted, providing researchers with a necessary tool to assess mystical experiences in Norwegian populations.

Practical Application:
The Norwegian MEQ-30 can be implemented in future clinical trials and research studies to better understand the subjective effects of psychedelics in Norwegian-speaking participants, allowing for cross-cultural comparisons in psychedelic research.

Key Background Information

  • Context: Mystical experiences induced by psychedelics are considered a key psychological mechanism in their therapeutic effects. However, there has been no Norwegian version of the MEQ-30, limiting research in this area.
  • Hypothesis: A properly translated and adapted Norwegian MEQ-30 will allow for accurate measurement of mystical experiences in Norwegian populations and facilitate future psychedelic research.

Methodology

  • Study Design: Translation and cultural adaptation study.
  • Participants: A small pilot group of Norwegian-speaking psychedelic users (n=6) and an expert panel (n=6) consisting of psychologists, anthropologists, and medical professionals.
  • Intervention/Exposure: The MEQ-30 was translated into Norwegian following standardized translation and validation procedures.
  • Controls: Comparison with back-translated English versions to ensure conceptual equivalence.
  • Duration: Data collection and translation process conducted from 2022 to 2024.

Key Findings

Primary Outcomes:

  • The translation process followed rigorous steps, including independent forward translations, back-translation, pilot testing, and expert review.
  • Cognitive debriefing ensured the questionnaire was understandable and culturally appropriate for Norwegian users.
  • Minor linguistic adjustments were made to certain items to better fit Norwegian language nuances.
  • The word "awe" was carefully translated to "ærefrykt" to maintain conceptual integrity.
  • The final Norwegian MEQ-30 version (T2) is ready for implementation in future studies.

Secondary Outcomes:

  • The Norwegian MEQ-30 can be used in upcoming Norwegian psychedelic research projects, including studies on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.
  • The translation process aligns with other international MEQ-30 adaptations, supporting cross-cultural validation efforts.
  • Future studies will assess the psychometric properties of the Norwegian MEQ-30 to confirm its reliability and validity.

Interpretation & Implications

  • Conclusion: The Norwegian MEQ-30 is a significant step forward for psychedelic research in Norway, ensuring that mystical experiences can be systematically studied in Norwegian populations.
  • Implications: Researchers in Norway can now use a standardized tool to measure psychedelic-induced mystical experiences, enabling better data collection and comparison with international studies.
  • Limitations: The study focused on translation and adaptation rather than full psychometric validation. Further studies are needed to assess the reliability and validity of the Norwegian MEQ-30 in larger populations.

Researchers & Publication

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