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, 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.
