title: Mindfulness-based stress reduction and physiological activity during acute stress: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to examine the effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention on cardiovascular and cortisol activity during acute stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-eight healthy community-dwelling individuals reporting elevated stress levels were randomly assigned to the MBSR protocol or a waitlist control group. Before and after the intervention period they participated in a laboratory stress protocol consisting of mental arithmetic and speech tasks. Laboratory measurements included continuous cardiovascular parameters (heart period, heart rate variability, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure [SBP and DBP]), and salivary cortisol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the control group and controlling for age, sex, body mass index, and beta-blockers, the MBSR group showed larger pre- to postintervention decreases in overall SBP (F(1, 58) = 4.99, p = .029, partial η² = .08) and DBP (F(1, 58) = 11.09, p = .002, partial η² = .16). In addition, the MBSR group exhibited smaller SBP and DBP stress-related changes from pre- to postintervention (F(2, 116) = 4.89, p = .012, partial η² = .08; F(2, 116) = 6.07, p = .007, partial η² = .10, respectively). No effects were obtained on other physiological measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBSR may help reducing blood pressure levels and blood pressure reactivity to stress.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic disease (CoRPS), Department of Medical Psychology, Tilburg University.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nyklíček
authors.forename: Paula M C
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mommersteeg
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Beugen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramakers
authors.forename: Geert J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Van Boxtel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone