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Mindfulness Meditation in Chronic Stress

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Aging
Interventions
Other: Mindfulness Meditation Training
Registration Number
NCT01386060
Lead Sponsor
Oregon Health and Science University
Brief Summary

The study purpose is to evaluate efficacy of a mindfulness training intervention and learn about cognitive and physiological markers of stress.

Detailed Description

Subjects will first undergo a phone screening, and if eligible, they will complete three study visits at Week 1, Week 8, and Week 15. The study visits involve at-home surveys, voice recordings, physical measures (height, weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and blood pressure), EEG recordings (including recordings of electrodermal activity and heart rate variability), computer tasks, in-lab saliva collection, overnight urine collection, 2-day saliva collection at bed waking, 30 minutes post-waking, afternoon, and bedtime, and a small handheld device that randomly administers eight short assessments in the subjects' natural environment. Subjects will be randomized to receive a 6-week mindfulness meditation course either between the first and second study visits or between the second and third study visits. Participants who receive training during the first and second visits will continue meditating until the third visit. The one-on-one instruction occurs once a week for 1 ½ hours, and participants are asked to listen to guided meditations and do other mindfulness-based tasks on a daily basis between sessions.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
134
Inclusion Criteria
  • Ages 50-85
  • Good General Health
  • Experiencing Stress
  • No current meditation practice
  • English speaking
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Neurological Disease
  • Major Untreated Depression

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Mindfulness Meditation TrainingMindfulness Meditation TrainingParticipants receive the 6-week meditation training intervention between the 1st and 2nd study visits.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in Physiological Markers of StressBaseline (Week 1) and Visit 2 (Week 8)

Measure changes in blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, neurological reaction time to visual stimuli, urine, saliva, waist-to-hip ratio, weight, and electrodermal response.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in self-reported measures of stressBaseline (Week 1) and Visit 2 (Week 8)

A series of questionnaires measure different facets of perceived quality of life and stress

Cognitive ChangesBaseline (Week 1) and Visit 2 (Week 8)

In-lab cognitive tests measure attention and memory.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oregon Health and Science University

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

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