title: A comparison of mindfulness-based stress reduction and an active control in modulation of neurogenic inflammation.
abstract: Psychological stress is a major provocative factor of symptoms in chronic inflammatory conditions. In recent years, interest in addressing stress responsivity through meditation training in health-related domains has increased astoundingly, despite a paucity of evidence that reported benefits are specific to meditation practice. We designed the present study to rigorously compare an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention to a well-matched active control intervention, the Health Enhancement Program (HEP) in ability to reduce psychological stress and experimentally-induced inflammation. The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was used to induce psychological stress and inflammation was produced using topical application of capsaicin cream to forearm skin. Immune and endocrine measures of inflammation and stress were collected both before and after MBSR training. Results show those randomized to MBSR and HEP training had comparable post-training stress-evoked cortisol responses, as well as equivalent reductions in self-reported psychological distress and physical symptoms. However, MBSR training resulted in a significantly smaller post-stress inflammatory response compared to HEP, despite equivalent levels of stress hormones. These results suggest behavioral interventions designed to reduce emotional reactivity may be of therapeutic benefit in chronic inflammatory conditions. Moreover, mindfulness practice, in particular, may be more efficacious in symptom relief than the well-being promoting activities cultivated in the HEP program.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging & Behavior and Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, United States. marosenk@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rosenkranz
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Donal G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Maccoon
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: Ned H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kalin
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001768:Blister / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000276:immunology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D020078:Neurogenic Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D057566:Self Report; D018689:Sensory System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508606:CXCL8 protein, human; D016209:Interleukin-8; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002211:Capsaicin; D006854:Hydrocortisone