Meditation and Hypnosis for Chronic Depressed Mood

Stanford University

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Conditions

Long Term Depressed Mood

Treatments

Behavioral: group psychotherapy with hypnosis plus education

Behavioral: education

Behavioral: meditation plus education

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT00226863

1HSA698

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examined whether meditation or group psychotherapy including hypnosis plus education, compared to an educational control, would ameliorate long-term depressed mood.

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Currently meeting DSM-IV criteria for a chronic depressive disorder, with the requirement that depressive symptoms had to have lasted for at least 2 years without a remission of 2 months or more.
Being 18 years of age or older.
Being sufficiently proficient in English to be able to participate in group therapy.
Being able to attend weekly meetings at Stanford.

Exclusion criteria

Concurrent bipolar disorder or severe depressive disorder (this latter was determined in supervision for the SCID interviews).
Presence or history of psychosis.
A current primary diagnosis of panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or PTSD.
A current primary diagnosis of drug or alcohol dependency or abuse (within the last 3 months).
Serious suicidal risk, as defined by:
Current suicidality, i.e., beyond simple ideation (e.g., making threats or attempts; gathering means; has a plan); OR
Serious prior attempts (bodily harm; gathered means; hospitalization).
Has a significant medical condition that could interfere with participation in meditation/yoga.
Current participation in psychotherapy or a meditation group.
Has started (or changed level or type of) prescribed antidepressant medication or St. John's Wort in the previous 3 months.