Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress management program as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in patients with anxiety disorder.
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.
Lee
Sang Hyuk
SH
Department of Psychiatry, Pochon CHA University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea.
Ahn
Seung Chan
SC
Lee
Yu Jin
YJ
Choi
Tae Kyu
TK
Yook
Ki Hwan
KH
Suh
Shin Young
SY
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
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D017374:Paroxetine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D020280:Sertraline; D000525:Alprazolam