A time-tested intervention
Commenting on the study, psychiatrist Gregory Scott Brown, MD, affiliate faculty, University of Texas Dell Medical School, and author of “The Self-Healing Mind: An Essential Five-Step Practice for Overcoming Anxiety and Depression and Revitalizing Your Life,” said the results aren’t surprising inasmuch as mindfulness, including spirituality, breath work, and meditation, is a “time-tested and evidence-based” intervention.
Dr. Gregory Scott Brown
“I’m encouraged by the fact studies like this are now being conducted and there’s more evidence that supports these mindfulness-based interventions, so they can start to make their way into standard-of-care treatments.” he said.
He noted that mindfulness can produce “long-term, sustainable improvements” and that the 45-minute daily home exercise included in the study “is not a huge time commitment when you talk about benefits you can potentially glean from incorporating that time.”
Because most study participants were women and “men are anxious too,” Dr. Brown said he would like to see the study replicated “with a more diverse pool of participants.”
The study was supported by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Dr. Hoge and Dr. Brown have reported no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.