Community-based Approach to Lowering Stress Through Mindfulness

Addressing Depression for African American Adults With Hypertension: Applying Community-Engaged Implementation Science

The goal of this clinical trial is to test a culturally adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention in a community setting for African American adults with high blood pressure (hypertension) and depression. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does participation in a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention improve depressive symptoms?
• Does participation in a culturally adapted mindfulness-based intervention improve blood pressure control?
• Is the intervention acceptable, appropriate, and feasible as delivered in a community setting?

Participants will:

• Participate in an 8-week group-based mindfulness intervention (CALM-Chicago). During intervention sessions, participants will learn about mindfulness and stress management and complete mindfulness-based activities, such as guided deep breathing and meditation.
• Complete surveys online
• Have their blood pressure measured with a non-invasive blood pressure cuff
• Attend 1 focus group (optional)

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥18 years old
• Lives, works, or spends much of their time in the South Side of Chicago neighborhood
• Self-reports diagnosis of hypertension or high blood pressure by a clinician
• Endorses elevated depressive symptoms as Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 scores ≥10
• Not taking antidepressant medication or stable on antidepressant medication for ≥6 months as self-reported

Exclusion Criteria:

• <18 years old
• Severe mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, psychosis)
• Current suicidal ideation (PHQ-9 item 9) or recent (past 6 months) suicide attempt
• Unable to provide informed consent or complete study activities in English