Contemplative Mental Training Reduces Glycocorticoid Levels in Hair in a Randomized Clinical Trial

Doi: 10.1097 / PSY.000000000000000970

Explanation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of regular contemplative mental training on endocrine and psychological indicators of long-term stress.

An open-label efficacy study consisting of three different 3-month modules was conducted, targeting attention and mutual acceptance, social-emotional, or socio-cognitive abilities in healthy adults through bilateral exercise and long-term meditation practices.

Participants received either 3 or 9 months of training or were assigned to a retest control cohort.

The Chronic Stress Index was analyzed at four time points: before training and after 3, 6, and 9 months. The main outcome measures were hair cortisol (HC) and cortisone (HE) concentrations and self-reported long-term stress.

The experiment was initially randomized to 362 individuals, of whom 30 dropped out before the start of the study (n = 332; mean [SD] age = 40.7 [9.2] years; 197 women).

Hair-based glycocorticoid assays were available from n = 227, and questionnaire data were available from n = 326.

Results from three separate training cohorts (TC1-3) revealed a consistent decrease in HC and HE levels from the first 3 months (TC3) to 6 months (TC3).

The effect of training on HC increased with individual compliance (frequency of practice), and the effect on both HC and HE was independent of training content and independent of changes in self-reported chronic stress.

Self-reported stress, as well as the ratios of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone as exploratory endpoints, also decreased, although less consistently.