Effects of mindfulness meditation on occupational functioning and health care utilization in individuals with anxiety.
To examine the effect of mindfulness meditation on occupational functioning in individuals with Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).



Fifty-seven individuals with GAD (mean (SD) age=39 (13); 56% women) participated in an 8-week clinical trial in which they were randomized to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or an attention control class. In this secondary analysis, absenteeism, entire workdays missed, partial workdays missed, and healthcare utilization patterns were assessed before and after treatment.



Compared to the attention control class, participation in MBSR was associated with a significantly greater decrease in partial work days missed for adults with GAD (t=2.734, df=51, p=0.009). Interestingly, a dose effect was observed during the 24-week post-treatment follow-up period: among MBSR participants, greater home mindfulness meditation practice was associated with less work loss and with fewer mental health professional visits.



Mindfulness meditation training may improve occupational functioning and decrease healthcare utilization in adults with GAD.
Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, DC, United States; Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: ehoge@partners.org.
Elizabeth A
EA
Hoge
Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, DC, United States.
Brittany M
BM
Guidos
Medstar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States.
Mihriye
M
Mete
Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
Eric
E
Bui
Rush University Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, IL, United States.
Mark H
MH
Pollack
Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
Naomi M
NM
Simon
Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, DC, United States.
Mary Ann
MA
Dutton
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000639:trends; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000639:trends; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Absenteeism; Anxiety; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01033851; Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); Health care utilization; Mindfulness/meditation; Work loss