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CompletedNCT01343810Updated Mar 10, 2014

Stress Reduction Training to Improve Sleep Quality, Stress Physiology & Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Markers

An interventional study of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Stress, Psychological, Sleep and Inflammation, sponsored by Duke University. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2014-03-10.

Sponsored by Duke University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
87
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this study is to better understand the potential value of reducing stress to ameliorate a cluster of biological and behavioral factors implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. These factors include psychological distress, poor sleep quality, and exaggerated physiological responses to emotional stress. Results will be used to develop an innovative brief intervention to reduce risk for CVD by improving sleep quality, ameliorating psychological distress, and attenuating stress physiology.

Read the detailed description

This study will be conducted among 200 men and women participating in 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. The central hypothesis of this NIH-funded clinical trial (R00 AT004945, PI: Greeson) is that mindfulness meditation training is associated with increased levels of mindfulness and improved cognitive-emotional functioning that, together, are associated with reduced psychological distress, improved sleep quality, and less exaggerated physiological responses to emotional stress, including blood pressure and inflammation. This study is designed to examine psychological and biological mechanisms that may explain individual differences in MBSR outcomes. This knowledge is important because it will help us better understand who is most likely to benefit from mindfulness meditation training, and why. The results from this study are expected to elucidate mechanisms underlying the mental and physical health benefits of stress reduction, which can help guide clinicians in referring the most suitable patients to local MBSR programs.

02

Conditions studied

  • Stress, Psychological
  • Sleep
  • Inflammation
  • Cardiovascular Diseases

Keywords

  • Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
  • Meditation
  • Psychological stress
  • Sleep quality
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Inflammation
03

In context

Cardiovascular Diseases

4,904 studies on the registry are indexed under Cardiovascular Diseases; 919 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 87 is below the median of 100 across 2,738 interventional studies indexed under Cardiovascular Diseases.

Browse Cardiovascular Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Duke University is the lead sponsor of 2,025 studies on the registry; 275 are open to participants now.

Of its 194 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 159 (82%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  1. Willing to participate in an 8 week stress reduction training program
  2. Between 18 and 65 years old
  3. Generally in good health and not taking medication
  4. Able to speak and read English
  5. Willing to provide informed consent
  6. Able to access the internet
  7. Able to attend 4 study visits at Duke University Medical Center

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Younger than 18 years old/Older than 65
  2. Asthma
  3. Allergies
  4. Arthritis
  5. Autoimmune disease (Lupus)
  6. Cancer
  7. Cardiovascular disease, heart attack, or atherosclerosis
  8. Diabetes or High Blood Sugar (>124 mg/dl)
  9. Hypertension or high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg)
  10. High cholesterol (>240 mg/dl)
  11. Obesity (Body Mass Index >30)
  12. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  13. Mitral Valve Prolapse, or Heart Murmurs
  14. Irregular Menstrual Cycles (Peri-Menopause Excluded. Menopause may be included.)
  15. Skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis (acne may be included)
  16. Sleep Apnea
  17. Depression, anxiety, substance use, or any other mental health diagnosis
  18. Sleep aids like Tylenol PM or Ambien on a regular basis
  19. Medication for allergies or asthma on a regular basis
  20. Aspirin or baby Aspirin on a regular basis
  21. Oral contraceptives or birth control (women only)
  22. Hormone Replacement Therapy
  23. Flu shot within past 3 weeks
  24. Underweight (BMI \< 18.5)
  25. Current smoker
  26. >1 alcoholic drink/day (women)/ >2 alcoholic drinks/day (men)
  27. Hospitalized within the last 3 months
  28. Treated for any infections within the last 3 months
  29. Current meditation practice >1x/month
  30. Previously taken a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course
  31. Participation in any other research studies in the past year that involved drugs or taking blood
  32. Recently donated blood. (500 cc's in last 8 wks)
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
Single (Investigator)
Enrollment
87 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Meditation

    Both arms will undergo 8-weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. The experimental arm will be randomly assigned to practice meditation immediately following the emotional stress task in the lab during the post-MBSR lab visit.

    Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) · Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

  • Active comparator
    No meditation

    Both arms will undergo 8-weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. The active comparator arm will be randomly assigned to not practice meditation, but rather listen to a non-meditative audio track of equal length, immediately following the emotional stress task in the lab during the post-MBSR lab visit.

    Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) · Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Interventions

  • BehavioralMindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

    The MBSR program consists of 8 weekly classes that last for 2.5 hours each and a commitment to daily meditation practice for the duration of the course. Classes include didactic instruction on mindfulness and its relationship to stress and health, guided meditation practices, and group discussion. Mindfulness meditation practices include awareness of breathing, awareness of emotions, body scan, mindful hatha yoga, mindful walking, mindful eating, mindful listening, and lovingkindness (metta). Participants are expected to practice formal meditation outside of class for 20-45 min per day, 6 days per week. In addition, participants are encouraged apply mindfulness to everyday activities like eating, communicating with others, and hobbies. Written materials and audio CDs with guided meditations and yoga are provided. The course also includes one full day (7-hours) of meditation on a Saturday following the 6th week of class.

  • BehavioralMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

    The MBSR program consists of 8 weekly classes that last for 2.5 hours each and a commitment to daily meditation practice for the duration of the course. Classes include didactic instruction on mindfulness and its relationship to stress and health, guided meditation practices, and group discussion. Mindfulness meditation practices include awareness of breathing, awareness of emotions, body scan, mindful hatha yoga, mindful walking, mindful eating, mindful listening, and lovingkindness (metta). Participants are expected to practice formal meditation outside of class for 20-45 min per day, 6 days per week. In addition, participants are encouraged apply mindfulness to everyday activities like eating, communicating with others, and hobbies. Written materials and audio CDs with guided meditations and yoga are provided. The course also includes one full day (7-hours) of meditation on a Saturday following the 6th week of class.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Sleep quality

    Sleep quality will be assessed using 3 different methods: daily sleep diaries, questionnaires and actigraphy.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

  2. Stress physiology

    Physiological responses to mild emotional stress (5-minute Anger Recall Task) will be assessed in the laboratory before and after participating in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. During the stress testing sessions, we will take measures of heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones, metabolism, inflammation, emotions, and mindful qualities.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mindfulness

    Mindful qualities, including observing, describing, non-judging, non-reactivity, acting with awareness, mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

  2. Health-related quality of life

    Global health rating; physical functioning; fatigue; satisfaction with social role; pain intensity and pain-related interference with daily activities.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

  3. Negative Affect

    Anxiety; anger; depressive symptoms.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

  4. Cognitive functioning

    Cognitive abilities and concerns, including attention, concentration, memory, organization, and clarity of thinking.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

  5. Emotion regulation

    Rumination; avoidance; suppression; reappraisal.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

  6. Stress-related physical symptoms

    Common physical symptoms associated with stress, including muscle tension, gastrointestinal complaints, headaches, etc.

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (2 months), follow-up (8 months)

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Duke Integrative Medicine
    Durham, North Carolina 27705, United States
08

References and documents

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 10, 2014, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01343810
Lead sponsor
Duke University
Collaborators
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Responsible party
Jeffrey M. Greeson (PhD, Duke University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 28, 2011
Start date
Sep 2010
Primary completion
Mar 2013
Completion
Oct 2013
Last update
Mar 10, 2014

Study contacts

Jeffrey M Greeson, PhD
principal investigator · Duke University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2014. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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