A Clinical Trial of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological Distress, and Coping

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this trial is to show that the Transcendental Meditation program can decrease blood pressure in young adults (college students) and is associated with decreased psychological distress and coping ability.

Detailed Description
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Psychological distress contributes to the development of hypertension in young adults. This was a randomized controlled trial of 296 university students randomly allocated to either the Transcendental Meditation® program or wait-list control. At baseline and after three months posttest, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, psychological distress (total mood disturbance, anxiety, depression, anger/hostility) and coping ability (global constructive thinking) were measured.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological Distress, and Coping in Young Adults

Conditions
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High-normal Blood Pressure, Psychological Stress

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: male or female currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program through August 2006 Exclusion Criteria: history of: hypertension hypoglycemia chronic fainting coronary heart disease current systolic/diastolic blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg or below 90/60 mm Hg

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 16 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Transcendental Meditation program<br>a natural effortless mental technique practiced sitting quietly 20 minutes twice a day | Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program<br>* a natural effortless mental technique<br>* Other names: TM;|
| Placebo Comparator: Wait list control<br>student subjects on wait list control | Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation program<br>* a natural effortless mental technique<br>* Other names: TM;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| clinic systolic and diastolic blood pressure |  | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| psychological distress (anxiety, depression, anger/hostility) and coping (constructive thinking) |  | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Transcendental Meditation, blood pressure, psychological distress, high psychological distress