The Effect of Breathing, Movement, and Meditation on Psychological and Physical Symptoms and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Patricia L. Gerbarg, Vinita E Jacob, Laurie Stevens, Brian P Bosworth, Fatiha Chabouni, Ersilia M DeFilippis, Ryan Warren, Myra Trivellas, Priyanka V Patel, Colleen D Webb, Michael D Harbus, Paul J Christos, Richard P Brown, Ellen J Scherl
Inflammatory bowel diseases December 2015 DOI: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000568 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Patients with inflammatory bowel disease from the Jill Roberts IBD Center |
| Interventions | movement and meditation) |
| Duration | Assessments at baseline and weeks 6 and 26 |
| Measures | Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory 18, IBD Questionnaire, Perceived Disability Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Digestive Disease Acceptance Questionnaire, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | In patients with IBD, the Breath-Body-Mind Workshop was associated with significant improvements from baseline in psychological and physical symptoms, quality of life, and C-reactive protein at weeks 6 and 26, while the educational seminar group showed no significant changes. The authors propose BBMW as a promising adjunctive treatment that warrants further study. |
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of the Breath-Body-Mind Workshop (BBMW) (breathing, movement, and meditation) on psychological and physical symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Twenty-nine IBD patients from the Jill Roberts IBD Center were randomized to BBMW or an educational seminar. Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Brief Symptom Inventory 18, IBD Questionnaire, Perceived Disability Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, Digestive Disease Acceptance Questionnaire, Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, fecal calprotectin, C-reactive protein, and physiological measures were obtained at baseline and weeks 6 and 26. The BBMW group significantly improved between baseline and week 6 on Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (P = 0.02), Beck Anxiety Inventory (P = 0.02), and IBD Questionnaire (P = 0.01) and between baseline and week 26 on Brief Symptom Inventory 18 (P = 0.04), Beck Anxiety Inventory (P = 0.03), Beck Depression Inventory (P = 0.01), IBD Questionnaire (P = 0.01), Perceived Disability Scale (P = 0.001), and Perceived Stress Questionnaire (P = 0.01) by paired t tests. No significant changes occurred in the educational seminar group at week 6 or 26. By week 26, median C-reactive protein values decreased significantly in the BBMW group (P = 0.01 by Wilcoxon signed-rank test) versus no significant change in the educational seminar group. In patients with IBD, participation in the BBMW was associated with significant improvements in psychological and physical symptoms, quality of life, and C-reactive protein. Mind-body interventions, such as BBMW, which emphasize Voluntarily Regulated Breathing Practices, may have significant long-lasting benefits for IBD symptoms, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and inflammation. BBMW, a promising adjunctive treatment for IBD, warrants further study.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 9
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Psychological Comorbidities in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Actas Españolas de Psiquiatría August 1, 2024
- The Combined Effect of Mindfulness and Physical Activity on Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Behavioral Sciences September 11, 2026
- Effect of coherent breathing on mental health and wellbeing: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Scientific Reports December 13, 2023
- Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials. Scientific Reports January 9, 2023
- The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on immunity-related biomarkers: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review March 2022
and 4 more in the library