Acute and Long-Term Effects of App-Delivered Heartfulness Meditation on Psychological Outcomes and the Endocannabinoid Signaling System in Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.
Clinical and translational gastroenterology July 1, 2024 Thangam Venkatesan, Cecilia J. Hillard, Lina Ayer et al. 6 citations
A six-week pilot study of heartfulness meditation delivered through a custom app for cyclic vomiting syndrome found significant improvements in state anxiety, total mood disturbance, and other mood states across three time points in 30 participants who completed the treatment. Trait anxiety improved by week 6. Psychological distress, sleep quality (daytime dysfunction), coping using religion or spirituality, and health-related quality of life (mental and physical) also improved. Blood levels of the endocannabinoid N-arachidonylethanolamine and related lipids increased significantly after meditation at week 6. No adverse effects occurred. The findings suggest app-delivered heartfulness meditation is feasible, safe, and effective, and may work by augmenting endocannabinoids.