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Effects of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program on depression and neural structural connectivity.

Journal of affective disorders
January 1, 1970
Justin J Polcari et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to identify structural neural correlates of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program and assess potential correlations with clinical outcomes like interoception and depression.

Results Summary

MB-BP participants showed increased interoception and decreased depressive symptoms compared to controls, with DTI data revealing significant group differences in white matter neural tracts linked to the limbic system and blood pressure. Changes in neural connectivity were associated with improvements in interoception and depression.

Population

Adults with hypertension (subset of 14 MB-BP participants and 22 controls from a larger trial).

Effective Dosage

Not specified (8-week intervention).

Duration

8 weeks (with 3-month follow-up).

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP)
decrease
blood pressure
individuals with hypertension
-
effective at inducing lasting decreases
#1
Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP)
increase
interoception
participants (14 MB-BP, 22 controls)
-
exhibited increased
#2
Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP)
decrease
depressive symptoms
participants (14 MB-BP, 22 controls)
-
exhibited decreased
#3
Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP)
neutral
brain structural connectivity
individuals with hypertension
-
induces alterations
#4
Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP)
decrease
depression
individuals with hypertension
-
could mediate beneficial changes
#5
Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP)
increase
interoceptive awareness
individuals with hypertension
-
could mediate beneficial changes
#6
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hypertension-related illnesses are a leading cause of disability and death in the United States, where hypertension prevalence in adults is 46%, with only half of those afflicted having it under control. Due to the significant challenges in long-term efficacy and adverse effects associated with pharmacological interventions, there is an eminent need for complimentary approaches for treating hypertension. Although initial studies of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program (MB-BP) indicate that this novel 8-week intervention is effective at inducing lasting decreases in blood pressure, the neural correlates are unknown. METHODS: The objectives of this study were to identify structural neural correlates of MB-BP using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) and assess potential correlations with key clinical outcomes. RESULTS: In a subset of participants (14 MB-BP, 22 controls) from a larger stage IIa randomized controlled trial, MB-BP participants exhibited increased interoception and decreased depressive symptoms compared to controls. Analyses of DTI data revealed significant group differences in multiple white matter neural tracts associated with the limbic system and/or blood pressure. Specific changes in neural structural connectivity were significantly associated with measures of interoception and depression. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include small sample size (leading to insufficient power in the analysis of blood pressure) and the study duration (3 months). The main MRI limitation is suboptimal resolution in areas of extensive neural tract crossings. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that MB-BP induces alterations in brain structural connectivity which could mediate beneficial changes in depression and interoceptive awareness in individuals with hypertension.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultBlood PressureDepressionDiffusion Tensor ImagingHumansHypertensionMindfulness
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality68/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year2.0
Relative Citation Ratio1.03
NIH Percentile51.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.45
Normalized Score0.64
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