Effects of Transcendental Meditation on mental health: a before-after study

Masud Yunesian, Afshin Aslani, Javad Homayoun Vash, Abbas Bagheri Yazdi, Masud Yunesian, Afshin Aslani, Javad Homayoun Vash, Abbas Bagheri Yazdi

Abstract

Background: Transcendental Meditation is a mental practice to put the body and mind into a state of relaxation and rest. The method was shown to reduce anxiety and stress in previous reports. This study investigates its potential benefits in enhancing mental health of an adult Muslim population.

Methods: A before-after clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a 12-week meditation course on mental health of participants who were enrolled into the study by random sampling. 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was administered on two occasions in conjunction with a background data sheet.

Results: Mean age of participants was 32.4; they were 70% female and 55% married. GHQ scores improved significantly after the meditation course (p value: < 0.001). The difference was also significant in all subgroups of the population studied. In subclass analysis of the GHQ results, the before-after score improvement was significant only in the areas of somatisation (p value: < 0.001) and anxiety (p value: < 0.001).

Conclusion: Transcendental Meditation may improve mental health of young adult population especially in the areas of somatisation and anxiety, and this effect seems to be independent of age, sex and marital status.

References

    1. Cardoso R, de Souza E, Camano L, Leite J. Meditation in health: an operational definition. Brain Res Brain Res Protoc. 2004;14(1):58–60. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresprot.2004.09.002.
    1. Eppley K, Abrams A, Shear J. Differential effects of relaxation techniques on trait anxiety: a meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1989;45:957–974. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(198911)45:6<957::AID-JCLP2270450622>;2-Q.
    1. Krisanaprakornkit T, Krisanaprakornkit W, Piyavhatkul N, Laopaiboon M. Meditation therapy for anxiety disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;25(1)
    1. Mason O, Hargreaves I. A qualitative study of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Br J Med Psychol. 2001;74:197–212. doi: 10.1348/000711201160911.
    1. Noorbala AA, Bagheri Yazdi SA, Yasamy MT, Mohammad K. Mental health survey of the adult population in Iran. Br J Psychiatry. 2004;184:70–73. doi: 10.1192/bjp.184.1.70.
    1. Noorbala AA, Mohammad K, Bagheri Yazdi SA. A survey of psychiatric disorders in Tehran city. Hakim. 1998;4:212–223.
    1. Noorbala AA, Mohammad K, Bagheri Yazdi SA. Validation of GHQ-28 in Iran. Hakim. 1999;5:101–110.
    1. Lee SW, Mancuso CA, Charlson ME. Prospective study of new participants in a community-based mind-body training program. J Gen Intern Med. 2004;19(7):760–765. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30011.x.
    1. Gaylord C, Orme-Johnson D, Travis F. The effects of the transcendental mediation technique and progressive muscle relaxation on EEG coherence, stress reactivity, and mental health in black adults. Int J Neurosci. 1989;46(1–2):77–86. doi: 10.3109/00207458908991618.
    1. Alexander C, Langer E, Newman R, Chandler H, Davies J. Transcendental meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: an experimental study with the elderly. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1989;57(6):950–964. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.950.
    1. Williams K, Kolar M, Reger B. Evaluation of a wellness-based mindfulness stress reduction intervention: a controlled trial. Am J Health Promot. 2001;15(6):422–432.
    1. Brooks J, Scarano T. Transcendental Meditation in the treatment of post-Vietnam adjustment. Journal of Counselling and Development. 1986;64:212–215.
    1. Alexander C, Gelderloos P, Rainforth M. Transcendental Meditation, self-actualization, and psychological health: a conceptual overview and statistical meta-analysis. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality. 1991;6(5):189–247.
    1. Jevning R, Wallace RK, Beidebach M. The physiology of meditation: a review. A wakeful hypometabolic integrated response. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1992;16:415–424. doi: 10.1016/S0149-7634(05)80210-6.
    1. Caspi O, Burleson K. Methodological challenges in meditation research. Adv Mind Body Med. 2005;21(1):4–11.
    1. Benjamin S, Declamer P, Haran D. Community screening for mental illness: a validity study of the GHQ. British Journal of Psychiatry. 1982;140:174–180. doi: 10.1192/bjp.140.2.174.
    1. Grimes DA, Schulz KF. Cohort studies: marching towards outcomes. The Lancet. 2002;359(26):341–345. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)07500-1.

Source: PubMed

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

3
Sottoscrivi