Positive Health Online

Abstract

HOGE and COLLEAGUES, 1. Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, DC, United States; Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.  ehoge@partners.org ; 2. Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, DC, United States; 3. Medstar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC, United States; 4. Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; 5. Rush University Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, IL, United States conducted a 8-week clinical trial to examine the effect of mindfulness meditation on occupational functioning in individuals with Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Background

To examine the effect of mindfulness meditation on occupational functioning in individuals with Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Methodology

Fifty-seven individuals with GAD (mean (SD) age=39 (13); 56% women) participated in an 8-week clinical trial in which they were randomized to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or an attention control class. In this secondary analysis, absenteeism, entire workdays missed, partial workdays missed, and healthcare utilization patterns were assessed before and after treatment.

Results

Compared to the attention control class, participation in MBSR was associated with a significantly greater decrease in partial work days missed for adults with GAD (t=2.734, df=51, p=0.009). Interestingly, a dose effect was observed during the 24-week post-treatment follow-up period: among MBSR participants, greater home mindfulness meditation practice was associated with less work loss and with fewer mental health professional visits.

Conclusion

Mindfulness meditation training may improve occupational functioning and decrease healthcare utilization in adults with GAD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01033851.

References

Hoge EA1, Guidos BM2, Mete M3, Bui E4, Pollack MH5, Simon NM4, Dutton MA2. Effects of mindfulness meditation on occupational functioning and health care utilization in individuals with anxiety. J Psychosom Res.;95:7-11. Apr 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2017.01.011. Epub Jan 23 2017.