[THS] New studies show reduced depression with Transcendental Meditation

[Peter Webster]

New studies show reduced depression with Transcendental Meditation

April 7th, 2010 in Medicine & Health / Psychology & Psychiatry

This graph shows [ www.physorg.com/news189864285.html ]
the reduced symptoms of depression through Transcendental Meditation in older
adults at risk for CVD. Combined Study #1 and #2. N=112. Credit: Maharishi
University of Management

The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective approach to reduce
symptoms of depression, according to two new studies to be presented at the 31st
Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine in Seattle, Washington April
9th, 2010.

The studies, conducted at Charles Drew University in Los Angeles and University of
Hawaii in Kohala included African Americans and Native Hawaiians, 55 years and
older, who were at risk for cardiovascular disease. Participants were randomly
allocated to the Transcendental Meditation program or health education control
group, and assessed with a standard test for depression—the Center for
Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) inventory over 9-12 months.

"Clinically meaningful reductions in depressive symptoms were associated with
practice of the Transcendental Meditation program," said Sanford Nidich, EdD, lead
author and senior researcher at the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at
Maharishi University of Management. "The findings of these studies have important
implications for improving mental health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality," said Dr. Nidich.

Participants in both studies who practiced the Transcendental Meditation program
showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms compared to health education
controls. The largest decreases were found in those participants who had indications
of clinically significant depression, with those practicing Transcendental Meditation
showing an average reduction in depressive symptoms of 48%.

"These results are encouraging and provide support for testing the efficacy of
Transcendental Meditation as a therapeutic adjunct in the treatment of clinical
depression," said Hector Myers, PhD, study co-author and professor and director of
Clinical Training in the Department of Psychology at U.C.L.A.

The results of these studies are timely. For older Americans, depression is a
particularly debilitating disease, with approximately 20% suffering from some form of
depression. Overall, 18 million men and women suffer from depression in the United
States. Depression is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with even a
moderate level of depressive symptoms associated with increased cardiac events.

New studies show reduced depression with Transcendental Meditat

This graph shows the reduced symptoms of depression through Transcendental
Meditation in older adults with indications of clinically significant depression.
Combined Study #1 and #2. N=36. Credit: Maharishi University of Management
"The clinically significant reductions in depression without drugs or psychotherapy in
these studies suggest the Transcendental Meditation program may improve mental
and associated physical health in older high risk subjects," said Robert Schneider MD
FACC, director of MUM's Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention.

"The importance of reducing depression in the elderly at risk for heart disease cannot
be overestimated," said Gary P. Kaplan MD PhD, Clinical Associate Professor of
Neurology NYU School of Medicine. "Any technique not involving extra medication in
this population is a welcome addition. I look forward to further research on the
Transcendental Meditation technique and prevention of depression in other at-risk
elderly populations, including those with stroke and other chronic diseases."



Facts on Study Design

•The first study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Hector Myers at the Charles
R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. It included a subgroup of
59 African American men and women, 55 years and older, with a minimum carotid
artery wall thickness of 0.65 for women and 0.72 for men.

•The second study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Andrew Grandinetti at the
University of Hawaii. Data was collected on 53 Native Hawaiian men in Kohala,
Hawaii, 55 years and older, who had at least one additional major risk factor for
cardiovascular disease.

•Measurements with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D)
Rating Scale were taken at baseline, 3-month posttest, and 9-12 month posttest,
comparing Transcendental Meditation to health education controls.

•Both African Americans and Native Hawaiians suffer from higher rates of
cardiovascular disease compared to whites. African Americans have approximately 1.5
times the rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and Native Hawaiians have 2
to 4 times the rate of cardiovascular disease compared to the whites.

Facts on Depression

•12.4 million women and 6.4 million men in the U.S. suffer from depression.

•Approximately 20% of the elderly suffers from some form of depression according
the National Institutes of Health.

•Depression is an important risk factor for the development and progression of
cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research has found that a dose-response effect exists
whereby the level of depressive symptoms is linearly associated with the prevalence
of cardiac events. Even a moderate level of depressive symptoms increases the risk
for cardiac events.

•The Medical Outcomes Study determined that depression was more impairing in
terms of patient functioning and well being than arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and
hypertension, among others, and is more disruptive for social functioning than all of
the chronic medical conditions.

•Research has shown that approximately 50% of patients suffering from major
depression can be left undiagnosed by general practitioners.

•Depression accounts for $83.1 billion in medical care and workplace costs.

Provided by Maharishi University of Management

"New studies show reduced depression with Transcendental Meditation." April 7th,
2010. www.physorg.com/news189864285.html