A randomized controlled longitudinal naturalistic trial testing the effects of automatic self transcending meditation on heart rate variability in late life depression: study protocol
Z. Amtul, Amanda Arena, H. Hirjee, Z. U. Khan, P. Maldeniya, Ronnie I. Newman, A. Burhan, Stephen Wetmore, Akshya Vasudev
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine August 19, 2014 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-14-307 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial protocol Longitudinal Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adults aged 60 to 85 with late life depression |
| Intervention | treatment as usual |
| Dose | twice daily for twenty minutes each time |
| Duration | 4 consecutive days of training, weekly follow-up sessions for 11 weeks, assessments at baseline and 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks post intervention |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Registration | NCT02149810 |
| Key findings | The authors propose a randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial to test whether Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, a form of automatic self-transcending meditation, improves cardiovascular autonomic parameters and neuropsychological symptoms of depression and anxiety in late life depression. They report that their earlier pilot study suggested this technique may have promise for cardiovascular autonomic disturbances and for depression and anxiety symptoms, while noting that response rates to antidepressant trials remain poor. |
Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence and socioeconomic cost of late life depression (LLD) is on the rise, while the response rate to antidepressant trials remains poor. Various mind-body therapies are being embraced by patients as they are considered safe and potentially effective, yet little is known regarding the effectiveness of such therapies to improve LLD symptoms. Among the mind-body therapies currently in practice, the results of our pilot study have shown that a particular meditation technique called Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, which belongs to the category of meditation termed automatic self-transcending meditation (ASTM) may have some promise in improving cardiovascular autonomic disturbances associated with LLD as well as ameliorating symptoms of depression and anxiety.Methods/DesignPatients between the ages of 60 and 85 with LLD will be randomized either to ASTM plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone to assess changes in cardiovascular autonomic parameters, neuropsychological symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as quality of life. The instructional phase of the intervention consists of 4 consecutive days of meditation training, after which participants are encouraged to meditate twice daily for twenty minutes each time at home. The intervention also includes once weekly follow up sessions for the subsequent 11 weeks. The planned study has one and a half year recruitment period. Participants will be assessed at baseline and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks post intervention.DiscussionThis study should provide a unique data source from a randomized, controlled, longitudinal trial to investigate the effects of a form of ASTM on cardiovascular autonomic and neuropsychological health in LLD.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT02149810, date registered: 05/28/2014.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Health effects of Sahaj Samadhi meditation: A scoping review of evidence across cognitive, neurophysiological and clinical domains. Complementary Therapies in Medicine August 4, 2026
- Feasibility study protocol to examine the role of mantra meditation at reducing psychological distress in emergency department staff April 26, 2017
- A training programme involving automatic self-transcending meditation in late-life depression: preliminary analysis of an ongoing randomised controlled trial BJPsych Open March 1, 2016
Cites 5
- Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 1989
- Effects of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Transcendental Meditation on Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects With Coronary Heart Disease Archives of Internal Medicine June 12, 2006
- Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents and Adults through the Transcendental Meditation® Program: A Research Review Update Current Hypertension Reviews October 1, 2012
- A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction in African Americans treated for hypertension for over one year. American Journal of Hypertension January 2005
- The impact of the transcendental meditation program on government payments to physicians in Quebec: an update. American Journal of Health Promotion 2000