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The Psychobiological Effects of Participation in a One-Month Insight Meditation Retreat

University of California (UC) Davis logo

University of California (UC) Davis

Status

Completed

Conditions

Aging

Treatments

Other: Residential Insight Meditation Retreat

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to examine how participation in a 1 month intensive Insight (vipassana) Meditation retreat (a) affects biological markers of cellular aging, social affiliation, and inflammation, which are important for physical health, longevity, and behavior, and (b) to relate observed biological changes to baseline levels and changes in psychological traits, which may underlie improvements in personal adaptive functioning.

Full description

The investigators are specifically assessing the effects of retreat on telomere length and telomerase levels in participants' white blood cells, as well as plasma levels of interlukin-6 (IL-6), to assess how the retreat experience impacts these markers of cellular aging and inflammation. The hypotheses are that retreat participation will increase both telomere length and telomerase activity, but decrease IL-6 levels. The investigators will also assess the impact of retreat participation on oxytocin-a hormone involved in a number of physiological and behavioral processes, including affiliative bonds and stress responses-the hypothesis being that participation in the retreat will increase plasma oxytocin levels. The investigators will then explore how these and other biomarkers relate to psychological processes and personality traits, which may also be altered by participation in the meditation retreat.

Enrollment

66 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 70 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Previous meditation experience equivalent to two 5-10 day residential meditation retreats

Exclusion criteria

  • Disclosure of potentially contagious blood-borne illness (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) or other illnesses that might interfere with telomere or telomerase measurement

Trial design

66 participants in 2 patient groups

Retreat
Description:
Participants registered for a one-month, residential Insight Meditation retreat held at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in either February or March, 2013
Treatment:
Other: Residential Insight Meditation Retreat
Comparison
Description:
Experienced meditators from the Spirit Rock Meditation Community

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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