http://www.ei-resource.org/news/mental-and-emotional-problem-news/transcendental-meditation-reduces-depression,-anxiety-and-associated-high-blood-pressure/
Now, in the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a mind-body intervention for the treatment of psychological distress and associated high blood pressure, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program has shown a high degree of effectiveness with the results being published in the American Journal of Hypertension. The study involved 298 university students who were randomly selected to enter the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program or simply be placed on a waiting list (the control group). Before the TM program commenced and after 3 months all participants were assessed for psychological distress, coping ability, and blood pressure (BP). The results were impressive. Statistically significant improvements were found in total psychological distress, anxiety, depression, anger/hostility, and coping ability in the students who were enrolled in the TM program. These changes correlated with decreases in BP readings; psychological stress being a significant known risk factor for elevated BP. In contrast, the BP of the control group of students increased slightly. also: Lower Blood Pressure Alexander C.N., et al. Transcendental Meditation, mindfulness, and longevity: An experimental study with the elderly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 57:950-964, 1989. Alexander C.N., et al. Trial of stress reduction for hypertension in older African Americans (part II): sex and risk subgroup analysis. Hypertension 28:228-237, 1996. Anderson J.W., et al. Blood pressure response to Transcendental Meditation: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Hypertension 21 (3): 310-6, 2008. Barnes V.A., et al. Impact of Transcendental Meditation on ambulatory blood pressure in African-American adolescents. American Journal of Hypertension 17: 366-369, 2004. Barnes V. A., et al. Stress, stress reduction, and hypertension in African Americans. Journal of the National Medical Association, 89, 464-476, 1997. Barnes V. A., et al. (1999). Acute effects of Transcendental Meditation on hemodynamic functioning in middle-aged adults. Psychosomatic Medicine, 61, 88, 525-531. Rainforth M.V., et al. Stress reduction programs in patients with elevated blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Current Hypertension Reports 9:520528, 2007. Full article Schneider R.H., et al. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction in the treatment of hypertension in African Americans during one year. American Journal of Hypertension 18(1): 88-98, 2005. Full article Schneider R.H., et al. Long-term effects of stress reduction on mortality in persons ≥ 55 years of age with systemic hypertension. American Journal of Cardiology 95:1060-1064, 2005. Full Article Schneider R.H., et al. A randomized controlled trial of stress reduction for hypertension in older African Americans. Hypertension 26: 820-827, 1995.
