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Online Trial of Meditation and Behavior

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04632875
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : November 17, 2020
Last Update Posted : June 14, 2021
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Georgetown University

Study Description
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Brief Summary:
This study investigates how different types of meditation may affect behaviors and emotions. The study is conducted entirely online and involves listening to 4-weeks of a guided meditation training. The meditation involves either Loving-Kindness or Relaxation techniques. The purpose of the study is to assess changes in behaviors and emotions using standard questionnaires, reports of real-world behavior, and online behavioral tasks. The overarching goal is to help clarify how mind-body practices may improve some aspects of well-being.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Meditation Behavioral: Loving-Kindness Meditation Behavioral: Relaxation Meditation Not Applicable

Study Design
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Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 75 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Official Title: Identifying Neural Correlates of Altruism
Actual Study Start Date : December 4, 2020
Actual Primary Completion Date : June 10, 2021
Actual Study Completion Date : June 10, 2021
Arms and Interventions
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Arm Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Loving-Kindness Meditation
4-week guided Loving-Kindness Meditation training (administered online).
 Behavioral: Loving-Kindness Meditation
Approximately 15-minute sessions are administered 6 days per week
Other Name: Metta Meditation
Experimental: Relaxation Meditation
4-week guided Relaxation Meditation training (administered online).
 Behavioral: Relaxation Meditation
Approximately 15-minute sessions are administered 6 days per week
Other Name: Progressive Muscle Relaxation


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Social functioning [ Time Frame: 4-5 weeks ]
    Participants will complete a questionnaire about their real-world social behaviors. An aggregate score will be computed; higher scores will indicate better social functioning.

  2. Affective responses [ Time Frame: 4-5 weeks ]
    Participants will perform a wall-sit test and responses will be measured using a 0-100 Visual Analog Scale of intensity.


Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Psychological well-being related to COVID-19 [ Time Frame: 4-5 weeks ]
    Participants will complete a questionnaire related to the psychological impact of COVID-19 social distancing. Higher scores will indicate worse psychological impact of COVID-19.


Eligibility Criteria
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Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 55 Years   (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Is a medically healthy individual
  • Lives in the United States
  • Has reliable internet access and the ability to join a Zoom video chat

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has experience with meditation or other mind-body practices
  • Has a neurological disease
  • Has a current psychiatric disorder
  • Is on medication that affects the central nervous system (e.g. psychotropic drugs)
  • Has recurrent or chronic pain
  • Is pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Contacts and Locations
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Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04632875


Locations
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United States, District of Columbia
Georgetown University
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20007
Sponsors and Collaborators
Georgetown University
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Abigail A Marsh, PhD Georgetown University
More Information
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Responsible Party: Georgetown University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04632875    
Other Study ID Numbers: 2010-180-2
First Posted: November 17, 2020    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: June 14, 2021
Last Verified: November 2020
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
Plan to Share IPD: No

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Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No