Mindfulness-based intervention for hypertension patients with depression and/or anxiety in the community: a randomized controlled trial.

A 10-week mindfulness-based intervention, combined with health education, helped reduce depression and anxiety symptoms and lower blood pressure in 60 hypertension patients with depression or anxiety. The intervention group showed a 21.1% reduction in depression scores and a 17.8% reduction in anxiety scores, along with a 12.24 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure. Self-efficacy and awareness of physical and mental health also improved significantly compared to the control group, which received only health education. The findings suggest that short-term mindfulness programs can modestly relieve depression and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve psychological well-being in hypertensive patients with mood symptoms.

Study at a glance

Abstract

To evaluate mindfulness-based intervention for hypertension with depression and/or anxiety. 10-week mindfulness-based intervention, including health education for hypertension, exclusively for the control group, was administered to the intervention group to assist sixty hypertension patients with depression/anxiety. Among them, the intervention group comprised 8 men and 22 women, with a mean age of 60.02 years and a mean duration of hypertension of 6.29 years. The control group consisted of 14 men and 16 women with a mean age of 57.68 years and a mean duration of hypertension of 6.32 years. The severity of depressive and/or anxiety symptoms was assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), along with blood pressure (BP) measurements taken twice daily. The study utilized a self-made self-efficacy scale and awareness of physical and mental health to evaluate mental health and state. The depression PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores reduced by 21.1% or 17.8% in the mindfulness-based intervention group, compared to the control (Z = -2.040, P = 0.041) post 10-week period, suggesting significant reduction in anxiety/stress. These results were consistent with a reduction in systolic BP of 12.24 mm Hg (t = 6.041, P = 0.000). The self-efficacy score of the mindfulness intervention group significantly improved compared to the control (t = 7.818, P < 0.001), while the awareness of physical and mental health in the mindfulness intervention group significantly improved compared to the control (χ2 = 5.781, P = 0.016). Mindfulness-based, short-term focused interventions provide modest relief for depression and/or anxiety and are effective in lowering blood pressure and improving self-efficacy scores. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900028258. Registered 16 December 2019, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=43627 .