Exploring the Influence of Heartfulness Meditation on Regulation of Gene Expression linked to Anxiety and the Biological Clock
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 尚未招募
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 60
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- 2. Mean anxiety scores
研究概览
简要总结
This prospective, randomized controlled trialaims to assess the effects of Heartfulness meditation on various psychologicaland molecular parameters associated with mental health. With growing globalawareness of the burden of mental health disorders, this study investigates howa structured meditation practice like Heartfulness can influence bothsubjective mental well-being and objective biological markers. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the potential ofHeartfulness meditation on psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety,and stress, as well as on gene expression patterns linked to stress and anxietyregulation. Secondly, the study will evaluate circadian rhythm patterns andbiological clock alignment through standardized questionnaires and geneexpression. Disruptions in circadian rhythm are known to contribute to mentalhealth disorders, and meditation has been suggested to help restore rhythm synchrony.
Recent research has shown that lifestyle factors,including meditation, can lead to epigenetic changes such as heritable changesin gene activity without alterations in the DNA sequence itself.Mindfulness-based interventions have been linked to reduced expression ofpro-inflammatory genes and enhanced regulation of stress-responsive genes.However, there is limited data on Heartfulness meditation. By bridging psychometric assessments withmolecular biology, this study aims to provide holistic insights into the potentialof Heartfulness meditation. The findings could significantly contribute to thefield of mind-body medicine by identifying biological mechanisms through whichmeditation improves mental health and restores circadian balance. Ultimately,the research could support the integration of meditative practices intomainstream mental health care, offering non-pharmacological options for stressand anxiety management.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Computer generated randomization
- 盲法
- Participant Blinded
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18.00 Year(s) 至 35.00 Year(s)（—）
- 性别
- All
入选标准
- •Patients diagnosed by Psychiatrist for anxiety will be included in the study.
- •Patients screened by DASS-21 score 8 and 9 for mild and 10 to 14 for moderate anxiety, HAM-A scores of less than 17 indicating mild severity, 18–24 mild to moderate severity and PHQ-9 score of 1-4 indicating minimal depression, Gad-7 score 5 to 9 for mild and 10 to 14 for moderate anxiety.
- •Patients agreed to follow meditation protocol and willing to participate.
排除标准
- •Individuals presented with Disorder of Sex Development.
- •History of convulsion or epilepsy during the last 6 months before the study History of drug abuse.
- •Having received any psychiatric or psychological therapies during the month before the study.
- •Patients having a known history of Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, Personality disorder, Anxiety disorder, Mood disorder, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Dissociative disorder, Panic disorder, Depression and any other severe mental health condition.
- •Patients with metabolic disorders (diabetes, hypertension, and obesity), need oxygen supply or ventilation support and pregnant women or cancer.
结局指标
主要结局
2. Mean anxiety scores
时间窗: 12 weeks
3. Mean stress scores
时间窗: 12 weeks
4. PER1, CRY1, and BMAL1 gene expression
时间窗: 12 weeks
1. Mean depression scores
时间窗: 12 weeks
5. anxiety-related genes 5-HT2A, FKBP5, and MAOA
时间窗: 12 weeks
次要结局
- 1. Improved Mental Health: Significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress in meditation practitioners.(2. Enhanced Circadian Regulation: Positive effects on circadian rhythm patterns and biological clock regulation through changes in PER1, CRY1, and BMAL1 gene expression meditation practitioners.)