The Psychobiological Effects of a One-Month Insight Meditation Retreat, a Sub-study of The Shamatha Project: A Longitudinal, Randomized Waitlist Control Study of Cognitive, Emotional, and Neural Effects of Intensive Meditation Training
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 入组人数
- 66
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Oxytocin
研究概览
简要总结
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.
详细描述
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.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Case Control
- 时间视角
- Prospective
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 70 Years（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Previous meditation experience equivalent to two 5-10 day residential meditation retreats
排除标准
- •Disclosure of potentially contagious blood-borne illness (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis, etc.) or other illnesses that might interfere with telomere or telomerase measurement
结局指标
主要结局
Oxytocin
时间窗: change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period
an affiliative hormone associated with social bonding in both men and women, and which downregulates inflammatory cytokines
Telomerase
时间窗: change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period
an enzyme that repairs the shortening of telomeres that occurs during aging
Telomere length
时间窗: change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period
the repetitive sequence of DNA that serves as a protective cap to eukaryotic chromosomes, which protects from degradation and instability and is related to longevity
Interleukin-6
时间窗: change from the start of retreat to three weeks into the retreat period
a primary measure of inflammation, which is influenced by psychological stress
次要结局
- pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IFN-γ, TNF-α)(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Lifestyle Profile II(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Experience in Close Relationships, short form(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Non-attachment Scale(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Psychological Wellbeing Scale(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Mysticism Scale(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Big Five Inventory(two measurements, three weeks)
- Self-Assessed Wisdom Scale(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Ego Resiliency Scale(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Three Dimensional Wisdom Scale(two measurements, three weeks)
- Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale(two measurements, three weeks)
- Arginine Vasopressin(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(two measurements, three weeks apart)
- Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale(two measurements, three weeks apart)