Online Trial of Meditation and Behavior

Georgetown University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Meditation

Treatments: Behavioral: Loving-Kindness Meditation; Behavioral: Relaxation Meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04632875

2010-180-2

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates how different types of meditation may affect behaviors and emotions. The study is conducted entirely online and involves listening to 4-weeks of a guided meditation training. The meditation involves either Loving-Kindness or Relaxation techniques. The purpose of the study is to assess changes in behaviors and emotions using standard questionnaires, reports of real-world behavior, and online behavioral tasks. The overarching goal is to help clarify how mind-body practices may improve some aspects of well-being.

Enrollment: 75 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Is a medically healthy individual
• Lives in the United States
• Has reliable internet access and the ability to join a Zoom video chat

Exclusion criteria

• Has experience with meditation or other mind-body practices
• Has a neurological disease
• Has a current psychiatric disorder
• Is on medication that affects the central nervous system (e.g. psychotropic drugs)
• Has recurrent or chronic pain
• Is pregnant or planning to become pregnant

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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75 participants in 2 patient groups

Loving-Kindness Meditation

Experimental group

Description:

4-week guided Loving-Kindness Meditation training (administered online).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Loving-Kindness Meditation

Relaxation Meditation

Experimental group

Description:

4-week guided Relaxation Meditation training (administered online).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Relaxation Meditation