Effect of meditation on psychological distress and brain functioning: A randomized controlled study.


Author: Travis F1, Valosek L2, Konrad A 4th3, Link J4, Salerno J5, Scheller R5, Nidich S5

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education, United States; Center for Brain Consciousness and Cognition, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA, United States.

<sup>2</sup>Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education, United States. Electronic address: lvalosek@cwae.org.

<sup>3</sup>University of California at Santa Cruz (Graduate), United States.

<sup>4</sup>San Francisco Unified School District, United States.

<sup>5</sup>Center for Wellness & Achievement in Education, United States; Center for Social and Emotional Health, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, IA, United States.
Conference/Journal: Brain Cogn.
Date published: 2018 Jun 21
Other:
 Volume ID: 125   ,  Pages: 100-105   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.03.011. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 213  
    BACKGROUND: Psychological stability and brain integration are important factors related to physical and mental health and organization effectiveness. This study tested whether a mind-body technique, the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program could increase EEG brain integration and positive affect, and decrease psychological distress in government employees.



METHOD: Ninety-six central office administrators and staff at the San Francisco Unified School District were randomly assigned to either immediate start of the TM program or to a wait-list control group. At baseline and four-month posttest, participants completed an online version of the Profile of Mood States questionnaire (POMS). In addition, a subset of this population (N = 79) had their EEG recorded at baseline and at four-month posttest to calculate Brain Integration Scale (BIS) scores.



RESULTS: At posttest, TM participants significantly decreased on the POMS Total Mood Disturbance and anxiety, anger, depression, fatigue, and confusion subscales, and significantly increased in the POMS vigor subscale. TM participants in the EEG-subgroup also significantly increased in BIS scores. Compliance with meditation practice was high (93%).



CONCLUSION: Findings indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing the TM program to improve brain integration and positive affect and reduce psychological distress in government administrators and staff.



Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.



KEYWORDS: Brain integration; EEG; Meditation; Mood disturbance; Psychological distress; Transcendental meditation



PMID: 29936408  DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.03.011