A Clinical Trial of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological Distress, and Coping (AU)

Maharishi International University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: High-normal Blood Pressure; Psychological Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00924456

AF-0001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this trial is to show that the Transcendental Meditation program can decrease blood pressure in young adults (college students) and is associated with decreased psychological distress and coping ability.

Full description

Psychological distress contributes to the development of hypertension in young adults. This was a randomized controlled trial of 296 university students randomly allocated to either the Transcendental Meditation® program or wait-list control. At baseline and after three months posttest, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, psychological distress (total mood disturbance, anxiety, depression, anger/hostility) and coping ability (global constructive thinking) were measured.

Enrollment: 296 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• male or female
• currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program through August 2006

Exclusion criteria

• history of:

  • hypertension
  • hypoglycemia
  • chronic fainting
  • coronary heart disease
  • current systolic/diastolic blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg or below 90/60 mm Hg

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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296 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Transcendental Meditation program

Experimental group

Description:

a natural effortless mental technique practiced sitting quietly 20 minutes twice a day

Treatment:

Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program

Wait list control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

student subjects on wait list control

Treatment:

Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program