A training programme involving automatic self-transcending meditation in late-life depression: preliminary analysis of an ongoing randomised controlled trial
Akshya Vasudev, Amanda Arena, A. Burhan, Emily Ionson, H. Hirjee, P. Maldeniya, S. Wetmore, Ronnie I. Newman
BJPsych Open March 1, 2016 Retracted DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.002394 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-blind randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Seniors aged 60 years and above with late-life depression |
| Intervention | Automatic self-transcending meditation |
| Duration | 12-week programme |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Post-publication review | 1 comment on PubPeer (opens in new tab) · last active June 2021 |
| Registration | NCT02149810 |
| Key findings | A 12-week ASTM programme may lead to significantly greater reductions in depression and anxiety severity compared with a wait-list control. |
Abstract
Late-life depression affects 2–6% of seniors aged 60 years and above. Patients are increasingly embracing non-pharmacological therapies, many of which have not been scientifically evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate a category of meditation, automatic self-transcending meditation (ASTM), in alleviating symptoms of depression when augmenting treatment as usual (NCT02149810). The preliminary results of an ongoing single-blind randomised controlled trial comparing a training programme involving ASTM with a wait-list control indicate that a 12-week ASTM programme may lead to significantly greater reductions in depression and anxiety severity. As such, ASTM may be an effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of late-life depression.