Faculty Collaboration Database

Effects of brief and sham mindfulness meditation on mood and cardiovascular variables. J Altern Complement Med 2010 Aug;16(8):867-73

Date

07/30/2010

Pubmed ID

20666590

DOI

10.1089/acm.2009.0321

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-77955543284 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   213 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Although long-term meditation has been found to reduce negative mood and cardiovascular variables, the effects of a brief mindfulness meditation intervention when compared to a sham mindfulness meditation intervention are relatively unknown. This experiment examined whether a 3-day (1-hour total) mindfulness or sham mindfulness meditation intervention would improve mood and cardiovascular variables when compared to a control group.

METHODS: Eighty-two (82) undergraduate students (34 males, 48 females), with no prior meditation experience, participated in three sessions that involved training in either mindfulness meditation, sham mindfulness meditation, or a control group. Heart rate, blood pressure, and psychologic variables (Profile of Mood States, State Anxiety Inventory) were assessed before and after the intervention.

RESULTS: The meditation intervention was more effective at reducing negative mood, depression, fatigue, confusion, and heart rate, when compared to the sham and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that brief meditation training has beneficial effects on mood and cardiovascular variables that go beyond the demand characteristics of a sham meditation intervention.

Author List

Zeidan F, Johnson SK, Gordon NS, Goolkasian P

Author

Nakia Gordon BS,MA,PhD Assistant Professor in the Psychology department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Affect
Anxiety
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
Depression
Fatigue
Female
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Meditation
Mind-Body Therapies
Placebo Effect
Stress, Psychological
Young Adult