Effectiveness of a structured meditation programme in reducing anxiety symptoms: A randomized controlled trial among adults with generalized anxiety disorder

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally. Non-pharmacological therapies such as meditation are gaining recognition as effective adjuncts to standard treatment. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of an 8-week structured meditation programme in reducing anxiety symptoms and enhancing psychological well-being among adults diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 110 adults aged 25–50 years. Participants were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 55), which received guided meditation sessions for eight weeks, or a control group (n = 55), which received usual care. Anxiety levels were measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), while psychological well-being was assessed using the World Health Organization Well-being Index (WHO-5) at pre-test, post-test, and 4-week follow-up. Results: The experimental group demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety scores (HAM-A: M = 25.9 ? 18.0, t = 9.32, p<.001; GAD-7: M = 13.8 ? 9.4, t = 8.17, p<.001). Between-group comparisons also revealed significant differences in post-test mean anxiety scores (p<.001). WHO-5 scores increased by 31.2% in the experimental group compared with 9.8% in the control group. Conclusion: The structured meditation programme significantly reduced anxiety and improved overall well-being among adults with GAD. The findings support the integration of meditation into clinical and nursing interventions for holistic mental health care.