Plain English Summary
100 healthy volunteers were randomly allocated to receive a 2 week online mindfulness intervention, consisting of daily 10 minute practice of either insight meditation or loving kindness meditation. All participants completed measures of anxiety, depression, stress and mindfulness stress before starting the intervention, immediately after the intervention and again at 1 month follow up. Whilst both interventions were effective in reducing anxiety, depression and stress and increasing mindfulness skills immediately post intervention, sustained effects were only evident for anxiety. Future research might usefully examine whether these effects continue over a longer follow up period.
Background and study aims
We do not yet know whether the short term benefits of brief mindfulness practice is sustained, and whether there are any differences according to type of mindfulness practice undertaken. This study examines whether two different types of mindfulness interventions - using Insight and Loving Kindness meditations - result in sustained reductions in anxiety, depression and stress, and increases in mindfulness skills, in a nonclinical sample.
Who can participate?
Healthy adults, aged 18-65, with no previous or current mental health diagnoses.
What does the study involve?
Study participants were randomly allocated to receive a 2-week brief online mindfulness intervention, consisting of daily 10-minute practice of either Insight or Loving Kindness meditation.
What are the possible benefits or risks of taking part?
Possible benefits include learning to practice mindfulness, and reductions in anxiety, depression and stress both immediately after the 2-week intervention and at 1 month after the intervention. There are no known risks of taking part.
Where is the study run from?
The study is run from Royal Holloway, University of London.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The trial overall started on 01/01/2016, and recruitment for the trial started on 21/05/2016. Recruitment finished in March 2017.
How long will the trial be recruiting participants for?
The trial will be recruiting participants for approximately 10 months. Royal Holloway, University of London is funding the study.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Lyn Ellett, Lyn.Ellett@rhul.ac.uk.
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Lyn Ellett
ORCID ID
Contact details
Department of Psychology
Royal Holloway
University of London
Egham
Surrey
TW20 0EX
United Kingdom
01784 414049
Lyn.Ellett@rhul.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
Mind-01
Study information
Scientific title
Are the short-term benefits of two brief mindfulness interventions sustained? A randomised controlled trial.
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Two brief online mindfulness interventions - involving insight meditation and loving kindness meditation - will result in sustained reductions in anxiety, depression and stress.
Ethics approval
Royal Holloway, University of London Ethics Committee, 20/05/2016, REC project ID: 99
Study design
Single-centre researcher-blinded randomised trial.
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised parallel trial
Trial setting
Community
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Condition
Anxiety, depression and stress
Intervention
Participants were randomly allocated to a 2-week online mindfulness intervention consisting of daily 10-minute practice of either Insight Meditation (n=50) or Loving Kindness Meditation (n=50).
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Anxiety, depression and stress were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety & Stress Scales questionnaire at baseline, post-intervention and at 1-month follow-up.
Secondary outcome measures
Mindfulness was assessed using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire at baseline, post-intervention and at 1-month follow-up.
Overall trial start date
01/01/2016
Overall trial end date
01/07/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged 18-65 years
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
100
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Previous or current mental illness diagnosis
Recruitment start date
21/05/2016
Recruitment end date
28/02/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham Hill, Egham
Surrey
TW20 0EX
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Royal Holloway, University of London
Sponsor details
Egham Hill
Egham
Surrey
TW20 0EX
United Kingdom
01784 414049
Lyn.Ellett@rhul.ac.uk
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Not defined
Funder name
Royal Holloway, University of London
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated during the current study are available upon request from Dr Lyn Ellett (Lyn.Ellett@rhul.ac.uk).
Intention to publish date
31/01/2019
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list