title: Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for prehypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is an increasingly popular practice demonstrated to alleviate stress and treat certain health conditions. MBSR may reduce elevated blood pressure (BP). Treatment guidelines recommend life-style modifications for BP in the prehypertensive range (systolic BP [SBP] 120-139 mm Hg or diastolic BP [DBP] 80-89 mm Hg), followed by antihypertensives if BP reaches hypertensive levels. MBSR has not been thoroughly evaluated as a treatment of prehypertension. A randomized clinical trial of MBSR for high BP was conducted to determine whether BP reductions associated with MBSR exceed those observed for an active control condition consisting of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six men (43%) and women (57%) averaging (standard deviation) 50.3 (6.5) years of age (91% white) with unmedicated BP in the prehypertensive range were randomized to 8 weeks of MBSR or PMR delivered in a group format. Treatment sessions were administered by one treatment provider and lasted approximately 2.5 hours each week. Clinic BP was the primary outcome measure. Ambulatory BP was a secondary outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses were based on intent to treat. Patients randomized to MBSR exhibited a 4.8-mm Hg reduction in clinic SBP, which was larger than the 0.7-mm Hg reduction observed for PMR (p = .016). Those randomized to MBSR exhibited a 1.9-mm Hg reduction in DBP compared with a 1.2-mm Hg increase for PMR (p = .008). MBSR did not result in larger decreases in ambulatory BP than in PMR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MBSR resulted in a reduction in clinic SBP and DBP compared with PMR. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00440596.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242. jhughes1@kent.edu.
authors.forename: Joel W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fresco
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Myerscough
authors.forename: Manfred H M
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van Dulmen
authors.forename: Linda E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Josephson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057194:Intention to Treat Analysis; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: MBSR; blood pressure; clinical trial; meditation; mindfulness; prehypertension