Psychobiological modulation in anxious and depressed patients after a mindfulness meditation programme: a pilot study

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation is an ancient and simple form of meditation that has been said to induce several important physical and psychological benefits. The present study was designed with the aim of investigating the psychobiological effects of mindfulness meditation practice in a clinical population. Sixteen patients with depression and anxiety symptoms were submitted to a mindfulness meditation programme for the period of 2 months. Psychological well‐being [5‐item Mental Health (MH‐5)] and several endocrine parameters [adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate (DHEAS), thyroid‐stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine and parathyroid hormone (PTH)] were assessed before and after the meditation programme. At post‐test, the MH‐5 score improved, while the levels of DHEAS and ACTH were raised, and those of PTH decreased. Our results suggest that mindfulness meditation can exert a significant psychobiological modulation by enhancing psychological well‐being, as well as by regulating the levels of several hormonal parameters on different axes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Meditation and Endocrine Health and Wellbeing

“…This hypothesis is supported by findings that in 20 middle-aged sedentary women, an eight week yoga program that included an unspecified form of meditation did not influence TSH, T4 or T3 levels, compared to a nointervention control group [57], indicating that the yoga/meditation intervention did not influence thyroid function. In sixteen individuals (nine female) with elevated depression and anxiety symptoms, two months of mindfulness meditation practised at least three times a week similarly did not influence TSH, T3 and T4 levels, though this study did not assess males and females separately [31]. In a pilot study of 22 women with hypothyroidism, however, six months of yoga practice four times a week, including cyclic meditation, resulted in a non-significant reduction in TSH, cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels [58].…”

“…As the neuroendocrine systems regulating the stress response are involved in the regulation of mood and emotion [27], mental illnesses such as clinical anxiety and depression are associated with increased expression of stress-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines [23], that stimulate the autonomic nervous system and hyper-secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and increase circulatory cortisol and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [23,24,28,29]. While the endocrine system is important in the management of stress, the effects of meditation on the functioning of the endocrine system and wellbeing have been scarcely investigated [30][31][32]. In regards to the impact of meditation on the human endocrine system, the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis has been most widely explored.…”

“…Previous research, however, indicates that mindfulness-based meditation may also influence HPA axis stress hormone levels, and that this is associated with improved mental health and wellbeing [33][34][35]. For example, in a pre-post study of 16 individuals with clinical depression and anxiety, two months of mindfulness meditation improved psychological wellbeing and increased ACTH, indicating that mindfulness meditation can enhance psychological well-being and regulate hormonal parameters [31]. In a randomized controlled trial of 150 healthy individuals, practising amrita meditation four times a week resulted in a decline in adrenaline and cortisol levels from as early as 48 hours after beginning the meditation program.…”

Susceptibility of Women to Cardiovascular Disease and the Prevention Potential of Mind–Body Intervention by Changes in Neural Circuits and Cardiovascular Physiology

“…With regard to the effects of mind–body interventions on human endocrine systems, the HPA axis has been the most widely explored [ 150 ]. In various populations such as colon cancer patients [ 227 ], breast cancer patients [ 172 ], prostate cancer patients [ 228 ], depressive patients [ 229 ] and healthy people [ 230 , 231 ], mind–body intervention affects regulation of the HPA axis which reflects stress levels. According to a meta-analysis of RCT studies investigating the effectiveness of meditation on physiological stress markers compared to active controls (seven studies, n = 212), the meditation group had significantly reduced cortisol levels compared to the control group [ 232 ].…”

Mindfulness-based symptom management and the treatment of burnout

“…The MBSM curriculum follows the standardized MBSR program developed by Kabat-Zinn (1990 Overall, the pedagogical focus throughout the eight-week MBSM program is on the cultivation of mindfulness practice, which has been shown to be effective for reducing symptom severity across a variety of psychological disorders, including depression (Grossman et al, 2010;Segal et al, 2002), anxiety (Goldin & Gross, 2010;Manzaneque et al, 2011), chronic pain management (Rosenzweig et al, 2010;Vago & Nakamura, 2011), and for the treatment of symptoms of bumout (Cohen-Katz et al, 2005;Davis, 2011;Oken et al, 2010).…”