Mindfulness-Based Meditation to Treat Stress in Unemployed Community Adults

Carnegie Mellon University

Status

Completed

Conditions

Inflammation

Stress

Treatments

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01628809

HLS-2011

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of a three-day mindfulness meditation retreat (vs. a three-day relaxation retreat) in stressed, unemployed, community adults on brain function, brain structure, and overall health and immunity.

Full description

Chronic stress has been shown to be a significant risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality. Eight-week Mindfulness-Based Meditation programs (MBSR) have been shown to improve participants' health and well-being, including reducing inflammation and slowing the progression of chronic diseases such as HIV. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential benefits of a three-day mindfulness-based meditation retreat program (vs. an active rest and relaxation retreat control condition) on a highly stressed, unemployed, community adult population.

Participants are recruited from the Pittsburgh area and are randomly assigned to either the mindfulness-based retreat program or the rest and relaxation retreat program. All participants complete a psychosocial survey, blood work, and a baseline fMRI before completing the intervention. Participants complete a second fMRI immediately following the intervention and then additional blood work and psychosocial surveys at a four month follow-up timepoint. At each fMRI appointment, participants will complete neuroimaging tasks (where they will be presented with words, picture, and sounds) that will assess neuroreactivity, regulation responses, and brain volume before and after mindfulness meditation training.

Enrollment

35 patients

Sex

All

Ages

24 to 52 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

English-speaking adults between the ages of 24 and 52 years at time of entry
non-pregnant women only
currently unemployed
high levels of self-reported stress
geographically accessible and willing to travel to and attend all study sessions

Exclusion criteria

not able to attend scheduled three-day retreat
have regularly (>1 time per week) practiced a mind-body therapy anytime in the last six months (e.g., meditation, yoga, tai chi)
indicate any major physical health problems in the last six months
have more than 15 alcoholic drinks in the average week
have been diagnosed with a chronic disease (e.g. HIV, diabetes, arthritis)
use medications affecting cardiovascular or endocrine function
are left-handed
have metal in their bodies (including pacemakers and permanent piercings (e.g., bellyrings, but not dental fillings))
indicate regular use of psychotropic medication or psychotherapy in the last six months
cognitive impairment as indicated by a score lower than 23 on the Mini-Mental State examination
demonstrate low levels of stress due to unemployment
smokers
indicate use of recreational drugs in the past month
indicate feeling claustrophobic in confined spaces, such as an fMRI scanner
weigh over 350 lbs
have any neurological disorders
indicate any use of doctor prescribed cholesterol lowering medications (e.g., statins)
currently employed
not currently looking for a job