The impact of transcendental meditation on depressive symptoms and blood pressure in adults with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Transcendental Meditation (TM) as a stress management technique may offer an adjunctive strategy to improve health and well-being in adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD). OBJECTIVES:To examine the efficacy of TM to improve aspects of cardiovascular health and psychological functioning in adults with CVD. METHOD:Studies (a) evaluating TM in adults with hypertension or CVD and (b) assessing a physiological or psychological outcome were retrieved and meta-analyzed. Weighted mean effect sizes were computed to assess between- and within-group changes. RESULTS:Nine studies met inclusion criteria (N?=?851; mean age?=?60?±?8 years; 47% women). Between-group analyses revealed no differences between TM and control groups. However, within-group (i.e., pre- to post-intervention) analyses revealed reductions in systolic (d+?=?0.31) and diastolic (d+?=?0.53) blood pressure (BP) for the TM group. There were no changes in depressive symptoms for TM or control participants. CONCLUSIONS:TM was associated with within-group (but not between-groups) improvements in BP. Continued research using randomized controlled trials with larger samples, and measuring psychophysiological outcomes at longer follow-up intervals is recommended.

SUBMITTER: Gathright EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7046170 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature