Evaluation of Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Activity on Medical Representative by Using Insight Meditation
Shreyas. Y. Bobade, V. V. Paithankar, J. V. Vyas
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology April 29, 2025 DOI: 10.38124/ijisrt/25apr998 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Medical sales representatives in India |
| Intervention | Vipassana (Insight) meditation |
| Duration | 21-day meditation program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Insight meditation led to statistically significant reductions in serum cortisol and changes in EEG brainwave patterns over 21 days, indicating reduced stress and anxiety. |
Abstract
The pharmaceutical industry in India is undergoing significant expansion, with Medical Sales Representatives (MR) playing an integral role in promoting pharmaceutical products and facilitating communication between healthcare providers and the industry. However, the demanding nature of this profession often results in elevated levels of psychological strain, including stress, anxiety, and depression. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of Vipassana (Insight) meditation an ancient Indian practice centered on cultivating mindfulness and emotional balance as a strategy for reducing occupational stress. This investigation focuses on physiological indicators of stress, notably serum cortisol concentrations and brainwave activity measured by Electroencephalography (EEG). By exploring these biomarkers, the study evaluates the potential of Insight meditation as a non-pharmacological intervention in high-stress work environments. Previous findings suggest that Vipassana meditation contributes to a decrease in various psychological disturbances, including aggressive tendencies, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. As stress becomes increasingly prevalent in modern life, meditation practices have gained attention for their broad benefits physiological, psychological, and spiritual. EEG-based studies have provided empirical support for the influence of meditation on brain Insights. This research seeks to deepen the understanding of neural activity during meditation by analyzing EEG data through wavelet transform methods and conducting statistical evaluations to determine significant changes in brainwave patterns. Aim and Objective Evaluation of antidepressant and anxiolytic activity on medical representative by using Insight meditation. Material and Method To evaluate the effectiveness of the meditation intervention, a paired samples t-test was employed to determine whether the mean cortisol levels differed significantly between the baseline and post-intervention measurements. Furthermore, electroencephalography (EEG) was used to monitor and assess participants mental states on both the first and twenty-first days of the meditation program. Result A statistically substantial association (p < 0.001) was observed amongst pre-Insight Meditation also post-Insight Meditation, as measured by cortisol levels and EEG activity. Conclusion Insight Meditation influences brainwave activity (alpha, beta, theta), improving memory, insight, and reducing anxiety. EEG studies show lower frequency waves are more common in meditating individuals, indicating reduced stress levels. Real-time EEG monitoring can track meditation progress and help train individuals. The study found significant drops in cortisol after meditation, highlighting its anti-stress effects.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |