An 8-week structured meditation programme significantly reduced anxiety and improved psychological well-being in adults with generalized anxiety disorder. In a randomized controlled trial of 110 adults aged 25–50, those who received guided meditation sessions showed a decrease in anxiety scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale from an average of 25.9 to 18.0 and on the GAD-7 from 13.8 to 9.4, while the control group receiving usual care showed smaller changes. Well-being scores on the WHO-5 increased by 31.2% in the meditation group versus 9.8% in controls. These results suggest meditation can be an effective adjunct treatment for GAD.
Greater adherence to a structured meditation program is linked to larger reductions in anxiety and blood pressure among adults with generalized anxiety disorder. In a randomized trial, participants who attended more than 80% of sessions showed an average drop of 8.5 points on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and a 6.2 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure. Overall, adherence significantly predicted post-treatment anxiety improvement. The findings suggest that consistent meditation practice aids both psychological and physiological recovery, and that supporting adherence can enhance therapeutic outcomes.