title: Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress management program as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in patients with anxiety disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a meditation-based stress management program in patients with anxiety disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to an 8-week clinical trial of either a meditation-based stress management program or an anxiety disorder education program. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Symptom Checklist--90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used to measure outcome at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of the program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the education group, the meditation-based stress management group showed significant improvement in scores on all anxiety scales (HAM-A, P=.00; STAI state, P=.00; STAI trait, P=.00; anxiety subscale of SCL-90-R, P=.00) and in the SCL-90-R hostility subscale (P=.01). Findings on depression measures were inconsistent, with no significant improvement shown by subjects in the meditation-based stress management group compared to those in the education group. The meditation-based stress management group did not show significant improvement in somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and interpersonal sensitivity scores, or in the SCL-90-R phobic anxiety subscale compared to the education group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A meditation-based stress management program can be effective in relieving anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorder. However, well-designed, randomized, and controlled trials are needed to scientifically prove the worth of this intervention prior to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyuk
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Yu Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae Kyu
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ki Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yook
authors.forename: Shin Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Suh
mesh_terms: D000525:Alprazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016730:Program Development; D012648:Self Care; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D020280:Sertraline; D000525:Alprazolam