A Clinical Trial of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological Distress, and Coping

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: High-normal Blood Pressure; Psychological Stress
• Interventions: Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program

• Registration Number: NCT00924456
• Lead Sponsor: Maharishi International University

Brief Summary

The purpose of this trial is to show that the Transcendental Meditation program can decrease blood pressure in young adults (college students) and is associated with decreased psychological distress and coping ability.

Detailed Description

Psychological distress contributes to the development of hypertension in young adults. This was a randomized controlled trial of 296 university students randomly allocated to either the Transcendental Meditation® program or wait-list control. At baseline and after three months posttest, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, psychological distress (total mood disturbance, anxiety, depression, anger/hostility) and coping ability (global constructive thinking) were measured.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-01
• Primary Completion: 2007-05
• Study Completion: 2007-05
• Study First Submitted: 2009-06-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-06-18
• Study First Posted: 2009-06-19
• Status Verified: 2022-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-04-05
• Last Update Posted: 2022-04-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 296

Inclusion Criteria

• male or female
• currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program through August 2006

Exclusion Criteria

• history of:

  • hypertension
  • hypoglycemia
  • chronic fainting
  • coronary heart disease
  • current systolic/diastolic blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg or below 90/60 mm Hg

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Transcendental Meditation program	Transcendental Meditation program	a natural effortless mental technique practiced sitting quietly 20 minutes twice a day
Wait list control	Transcendental Meditation program	student subjects on wait list control

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressure	3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
psychological distress (anxiety, depression, anger/hostility) and coping (constructive thinking)	3 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

American University; 🇺🇸 Washington, District of Columbia, United States