Comparison of Two Behavioral Treatments for Stress Reduction

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: RR; Behavioral: MBSR

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00625807

R21AT003425-01A2 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

SL1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Currently there are 2 popular stress reduction courses that are widely used in the US. Although they use somewhat similar techniques, it is currently unknown whether or not they work the same way, or if they are similarly effective at reducing stress. The study will directly compare these 2 courses. Participants will undergo approximately 4-5 hours of testing before and after each 8-week course.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 25 to 60 years old
• Good general health
• Able to attend all 8 sessions of the course and practice the techniques each night for 25 minutes

Exclusion criteria

• Psychiatric medications
• Significant medical or psychological illness
• Metalic implants (such as a pacemaker or artificial joints) that are not MRI compatible.
• Claustrophobia
• Pregnancy
• Previous head trauma or neurological disorder
• Previous experience with yoga or meditation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Program A - Relaxation Response (RR)

Active Comparator group

Description:

One of the 2 stress reduction courses

Treatment:

Behavioral: RR

Program B - Mindfullness-based stress reduction (MBSR)

Active Comparator group

Description:

One of the 2 stress reduction courses

Treatment:

Behavioral: MBSR