Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
January 1, 2007
Helen F. Coelho, Peter H. Canter, Edzard Ernst
227 citations
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a class-based program for preventing relapse of major depression, shows additive benefit to usual care for patients with three or more previous depressive episodes, according to evidence from two randomized clinical trials. However, because control groups did not isolate MBCT-specific effects, the findings cannot be attributed to the therapy itself. A systematic review of four relevant studies identified methodological weaknesses, highlighting the need for further research to determine whether MBCT has specific effects beyond general care.
Journal of Hypertension
October 12, 2004
Peter H. Canter, Edzard Ernst
75 citations
A systematic review of randomized clinical trials testing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for cumulative effects on blood pressure found that all five evaluable trials had important methodological weaknesses and were potentially biased by authors' affiliation with the TM organization. Only one trial established adequate baseline blood pressure, only one included follow-up, and only one tested TM in hypertensive individuals. Three trials reported statistically significant differences favoring TM, while two found no significant differences. The review concludes there is insufficient good-quality evidence to determine whether TM has a cumulative positive effect on blood pressure.
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
February 15, 2024
Karen Rees, Andrea Takeda, Rachel Court et al.
15 citations
A Cochrane review of 81 randomized controlled trials (6971 participants) examined whether meditation, especially mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) and transcendental meditation (TM), helps prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Compared with no intervention or usual care, MBIs reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress, but the evidence was low-certainty and heterogeneity was substantial. TM reduced systolic blood pressure compared with active controls (moderate-certainty evidence) and reduced blood pressure, anxiety, and depression compared with non-active controls (low- to very-low-certainty evidence). Neither meditation type consistently improved smoking cessation or well-being. Few trials reported CVD clinical events or adverse events. The authors conclude that the evidence is limited and uncertain, with many small studies at unclear risk of bias.