Effectiveness of a structured meditation programme in reducing anxiety symptoms: A randomized controlled trial among adults with generalized anxiety disorder
Sasmita Rout, Prabhanshu .
International Journal of Advanced Psychiatric Nursing February 1, 2026 DOI: 10.33545/26641348.2026.v8.i2a.243 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Adults aged 25–50 diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder |
| Intervention | guided meditation sessions |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 4-week follow-up |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Psychological intervention Mental health Clinical psychology Rating scale Physical therapy Intervention counseling Anxiety score Clinical trial |
| Key findings | An 8-week structured meditation programme significantly reduced anxiety symptoms and improved psychological well-being in adults with generalized anxiety disorder compared to usual care. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.