Mindfulness Proves As Effective As Leading Antidepressant In Treating Anxiety Disorders

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to be as effective as the antidepressant escitalopram in reducing agoraphobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and symptoms of social anxiety disorder. The multi-institutional study, led by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, suggests that mindfulness practices could offer a viable alternative to medications for treating anxiety disorders, with far fewer effects. secondary.

Anxiety disorders affect millions of people and are frequently treated with medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although SSRIs can be an effective tool for countering the symptoms of anxiety disorders, they also carry side effects that can negatively impact a patient’s quality of life in other ways.

In the case of escitalopram (sold under the names Lexapro and Cipralex), these side effects include nausea, headache, dry mouth, excessive sweating, insomnia and fatigue.

The research team previously demonstrated that eight weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was non-inferior to escitalopram in relieving stress and regulating emotions without presenting additional disadvantages.

In a new research letter, “Mindfulness meditation vs. escitalopram for the treatment of anxiety disorders: secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial,” published in Open JAMA NetworkThe team presents secondary outcomes of patient-reported anxiety, depression, and quality of life from the previous study.

The study included 276 adults diagnosed with various anxiety disorders (including agoraphobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder). Participants were randomly assigned to either the MBSR program or escitalopram treatment. The MBSR group attended weekly sessions focused on mindfulness meditation techniques, while the escitalopram group received doses ranging from 10 to 20 mg per day with regular clinical follow-ups.

Researchers used several standardized scales to measure anxiety, depression, and quality of life, from both the patient and clinician perspectives. Blinded raters conducted assessments using tools such as the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the PROMIS Anxiety Short Form.

Results revealed that both groups experienced similar reductions in anxiety symptoms over the study period. No significant difference was detected between MBSR and escitalopram in overall anxiety reduction at week 8, the primary endpoint of the study. Escitalopram showed a slight benefit in reducing symptoms at mid-treatment (week 4), but these improvements were not maintained at the end of the study.

Adverse event rates were the only significant difference between the two treatments. Nearly 79% of people who received escitalopram reported at least one study-related side effect, compared with only 15% of people in the mindfulness group.

The results further support the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction as a reliable treatment for anxiety disorders with fewer risks, making a compelling case for its broader application in clinical settings.

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