Mindfulness Training, Measured Against Medication for Anxiety
An eight-week mindfulness course matched a standard anxiety medication, with far fewer side effects.
Stress Management, Anxiety, Emotional Health, Mindfulness, Women's Health
In this trial, 276 adults with anxiety disorders were randomly assigned to either an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction course or the widely used medication escitalopram, and their anxiety was tracked over the following weeks. The mindfulness course proved non-inferior to the drug, meaning it worked about as well by the study's main measure, while causing far fewer adverse effects: around 15 percent of the mindfulness group reported a study-related side effect compared with nearly 79 percent of those on medication. The mindfulness programme was demanding, with weekly classes, a day-long retreat and daily home practice, so it asks real time and commitment. As a single trial focused on people with diagnosed anxiety, it shows promise that further studies will help confirm. For a woman weighing how to manage anxiety, it offers evidence that a skilled mindfulness course can be a serious option to discuss with a clinician.