Clinical trial NCT01857830: The Relaxation vs. Retreat Study
Official title: The Effect of a Short Term Meditation Retreat on Markers of Cellular Stress and Aging
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Stress
Ageing
Wellbeing
Keywords: Telomerase
Telomere Length
Psychological Stress
Amyloid beta proteins
Meditation
Lead sponsor: University of California, San Francisco
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2013-05-20
Enrollment: 96
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 30
Maximum age (years): 60
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: The purpose of this research study is to examine whether a short term meditation intervention can improve health, mood, and biological markers of cellular stress and aging in novice and experienced meditators compared to controls.

Detailed description: There are 3 parts to this research study, Part A, B, and C.

In Part A, participants complete a brief online questionnaire sent to them via email by the study coordinator.

During Part B of the study, participants stay at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, CA for 6 nights and participate in a meditation retreat being held at the resort, or stay at the resort without participating in the retreat. During their stay, participants attend two in-person research assessments throughout the week. Assessments will be 4 days (96 hours) apart for all participants and will include a fasting blood draw, body measurements, and self-report questionnaires.

Part C of the study includes a brief online questionnaire that is completed 1 month after participants leave La Costa Resort.

This study includes 3 groups: a group of "novice meditators" from the greater San Diego Region that are randomized into either the 1) Relaxation (Control) group or 2) Retreat group. The third group is comprised of self-selected "experienced meditators" who are already enrolled in the retreat. In total, 99 participants were recruited for this study.

The Retreat group stays at La Costa Resort and attends a 6 day meditation retreat intervention as well as completes all research study assessments and questionnaires.

The Relaxation (Control) group stays at La Costa Resort for 6 nights, but does not attend the meditation retreat. They attend once daily lectures on science topics and complete all research study assessments and questionnaires.

The Experienced Retreat group participants have an ongoing meditation practice and have enrolled themselves in the April 2013 meditation retreat. All of the Experienced meditators attend the meditation retreat and complete all research study assessments and questionnaires.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy
* Women
* Age 30-60
* "Novice Meditator" (meditates for 30 minutes per week or less) or "Experienced Meditator" (meditates at 40 or more per week and for more than 6 months, and are self-selected/enrolled in the retreat)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current or history of a major medical condition (such as cancer, heart disease, autoimmune disease, diabetes)
* Smokers (have not smoked regularly for the past 6 months)
* Currently taking antidepressants
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
* Currently taking Hormone Replacement Therapy or birth control pills

Primary outcomes:
measure: Telomerase
timeFrame: Change from Baseline in Telomerase 96 hours later
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Amyloid Beta Proteins
timeFrame: Change from baseline in Amyloid Beta Proteins, 96 hours later
measure: Psychological Well being
timeFrame: Change from Baseline in psychological well being at 96 hours, and 1 month later.
measure: Oxytocin
timeFrame: Change from baseline in Oxytocin at 96 hours later.
measure: Telomere Length
timeFrame: Change from Baseline in Telomere Length, 96 hours later
measure: Gene Expression
timeFrame: Change from Baseline in Gene Expression, 96 hours later
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Carlsbad
country: United States
facility: Chopra Center for Wellbeing
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: University of California, San Francisco
name: Elissa Epel, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of California, San Francisco
name: Eli Puterman, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of California, San Francisco
name: Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of California, San Francisco
name: Jue Lin, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: University of California, San Francisco
name: Samantha Schilf, BA
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: