The following is a summary of a study by Dusek et al. published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine in 2008.
Summary: compares the relaxation response method of meditation against educational classes on a sample with hypertension gathered from the community. The sole outcome measure was physiological blood pressure. The study had a sample size of 122 participants who underwent 8 sessions of treatment over 8 weeks. A t-test change score was used to analyse the results.
Results: The study found no significant difference between the treatment and the control.
Strengths: large sample size; double-blind; solid treatment duration; intent-to-treat used.
Weaknesses: single outcome; unclear results; only a moderately credible comparator.
Dusek, J.A., Hibberd, P.L., Buczynski, B., Chang, B.H., Dusek, K.C. Johnston, J.M. Wohlhueter, A.L., Benson, H. and Zusman, R.M. (2008). Stress Management versus Lifestyle Modification on Systolic Hypertension and Medication Elimination: A Randomized Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Vol 14(2), 129–138.
Summary: compares the relaxation response method of meditation against educational classes on a sample with hypertension gathered from the community. The sole outcome measure was physiological blood pressure. The study had a sample size of 122 participants who underwent 8 sessions of treatment over 8 weeks. A t-test change score was used to analyse the results.
Results: The study found no significant difference between the treatment and the control.
Strengths: large sample size; double-blind; solid treatment duration; intent-to-treat used.
Weaknesses: single outcome; unclear results; only a moderately credible comparator.
Dusek, J.A., Hibberd, P.L., Buczynski, B., Chang, B.H., Dusek, K.C. Johnston, J.M. Wohlhueter, A.L., Benson, H., Zusman, R.M. (2008). Stress Management versus Lifestyle Modification on Systolic Hypertension and Medication Elimination: A Randomized Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Vol 14(2), 129–138.