A Clinical Trial of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological Distress, and Coping

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Transcendental Meditation Program on Blood Pressure, Psychological Distress, and Coping in Young Adults

The purpose of this trial is to show that the Transcendental Meditation program can decrease blood pressure in young adults (college students) and is associated with decreased psychological distress and coping ability.

Psychological distress contributes to the development of hypertension in young adults. This was a randomized controlled trial of 296 university students randomly allocated to either the Transcendental Meditation® program or wait-list control. At baseline and after three months posttest, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, psychological distress (total mood disturbance, anxiety, depression, anger/hostility) and coping ability (global constructive thinking) were measured.

Inclusion Criteria:

• male or female
• currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program through August 2006

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of:

  • hypertension
  • hypoglycemia
  • chronic fainting
  • coronary heart disease
  • current systolic/diastolic blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg or below 90/60 mm Hg