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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, Stephen Wetmore, Ronnie I. Newman

BJPsych Open March 1, 2016 Retracted DOI: 10.1192/bjpo.bp.115.002394 (opens in new tab)

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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.

Comparable studies

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Study Year Design Participants
A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Subjects with DSM-IV major depression (treatment resistant) 2006 Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study n = 18
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety 2016 Randomized controlled trial n = 51
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression 2016 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial n = 29
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

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Depression Meditation Anxiety