Clinical Research Directory

Transforming Adolescent Perception and Mental Health Through Meditation and Cognitive Reappraisal A Mixed Method Study

This study will evaluate how a comprehensive meditation-based program, Inner Engineering, supports teens ages 15-18 in becoming more joyful, focused, resilient, and better equipped to manage stress and thrive. Through this study, researchers will examine whether practices like meditation, yoga, and cognitive reframing can help adolescents view and respond to challenges with greater clarity and balance. The study will assess mental and physical impacts through self-report, physiological, and neuroimaging methods.

Mindfulness and Meditation Based Lactation Education on Maternal Breastmilk in the Neonatal ICU

The purpose of this research is to investigate associations between mindfulness and meditation techniques and changes in maternal breastmilk in the mother pumping for her NICU infant.

Women's Healthy Aging and Menopause; (WHAM)

The present study will examine whether women at high risk for developing hypertension, i.e., post-menopausal status, at least mild psychological distress, and mildly elevated blood pressure, show improvements in these risk factors after a 12-week Transcendental Meditation (TM) intervention compared to Women's Health Education (WHE). Positive findings will provide initial evidence of using nonpharmacological methods, such as TM, to prevent hypertension in postmenopausal women.

Dynamic Neural Systems Underlying Social-emotional Functions in Older Adults

Assess the impact of a remote, app-delivered digital meditation intervention on emotional well-being of lonely older adults. Neuroimaging, electrophysiological (EEG), and autonomic physiology will be used to assess the neural correlates of the intervention. EEG and autonomic physiology will be collected while participants watch 30 min of an awe-inspiring movie. fMRI and autonomic physiology will be collected in the context of a social exploration/exploitation task.

Determining the Effect of the ThetaHealing Meditation Method Given During the Antenatal Period on Labor Pain and Fear in Primiparous Women

Purpose: This randomized controlled study was designed to determine the effect of the ThetaHealing meditation method given to primiparous pregnant women during the antenatal period on labor pain and fear. Objectives: 1. To increase childbirth satisfaction by enabling pregnant women to use the ThetaHealing meditation method during labor. 2. To ensure the use of the ThetaHealing meditation method during labor in order to reduce labor pain and/or facilitate adaptation to pain. 3. To reduce childbirth fear and/or facilitate adaptation to childbirth fear during labor by using the ThetaHealing meditation method. 4. To improve childbirth comfort through the ThetaHealing meditation method and thereby encourage vaginal birth. 5. Labor pain and childbirth fear are important factors that affect pregnant women's birth preferences. Negative birth experiences heard from women's social environment create beliefs that their own births will also be difficult, bloody, and traumatic. 6. Teaching the ThetaHealing meditation method to pregnant women during the antenatal period and enabling them to use their minds positively during labor is thought to increase women's comfort at the time of birth. In addition, continuous midwifery care during labor is known to increase a woman's self-confidence. A woman's feeling well and safe will influence the mode of birth. There is no research in the literature specifically addressing brain waves and childbirth. However, based on information conveyed by healthcare professionals, it is thought that after the procedural processes that begin when a woman is admitted to the hospital for birth, pregnant women remain in the beta frequency together with stress and anxiety. This is because the beta frequency is a brain wave in which surrender cannot be achieved and the person experiences intense stress and anxiety. It is clear that a woman cannot reach a state of surrender while feeling anxiety and worry under bright hospital lights in a room filled with NST sounds. With the progression of labor, a calmer environment, dim lighting, and continuous midwifery support, it is thought that the pregnant woman can reach the alpha brain wave and become ready for surrender.It is even thought that if the progression of labor is left to the woman's control, she may reach the theta brain wave. A woman who can reach the alpha or theta brain wave is awake but in a continuous sleep-like state. She is now away from anxiety and stress, intuitive, instinctive, and attuned to the labor process. Since there is no scientific study on the effect of brain frequencies on the labor process, brain wave activity during labor has been inferred based on midwives' observations. By providing education on the ThetaHealing meditation method to pregnant women in the antenatal period, it is aimed to help women attune to the alpha and/or theta frequency, thereby reducing the increase in cesarean rates and facilitating adaptation to childbirth fear and pain. For these purposes, an EEG device is needed to determine in which frequency range the brain waves are during labor when the ThetaHealing meditation method is used. By investigating the effectiveness of the training using an EEG device, a contribution will be made to the literature.

Meditation in Early Labor: Impact on Self-Efficacy and Childbirth Fear in First-Time Mothers

Aim-Introduction: The feeling of uncertainty about what will happen during labor, and the mother's perception of inadequacy regarding childbirth, can lead to anxiety and stress in some pregnant women, resulting in fear of childbirth and avoidance behaviors. This study was conducted to examine whether there are significant differences in childbirth self-efficacy and fear of childbirth between primiparous pregnant women who practiced meditation and those who did not during the first stage of labor. Materials and Methods: This experimental study is planned to be conducted between 01.04.2025 and 01.08.2025 with a total of 60 pregnant women (30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group) who applied to the delivery unit of a tertiary hospital in Turkey and were in the first stage of labor. After informing the pregnant women about the study and the procedures to be implemented, written informed consent was obtained from those who agreed to participate. Subsequently, the pre-tests of the relevant scales and the data collection form were administered. The relaxation meditation during childbirth was applied to the experimental group, followed by the post-tests of the same scales. Data were collected using the "Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory Short Form" and the "Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) Version A." Descriptive statistics and hypothesis tests will be used for data analysis.

Brain Health With Inner Engineering Meditation

This study will explore whether a 21-minute meditation practice called Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya leads to changes in brain health and explore how it affects cognitive and physiological function.

Contemplative Practice for Well-being and Self-Deconstruction in Women

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a contemplative practice called Feeding Your Demons (FYD), based on a secular adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism, in improving psychological well-being, body image, body acceptance, compassion, and self-deconstruction in adult women. Participants will be randomly assigned to either FYD or an active control group practicing mindfulness meditation. Psychological variables will be assessed before and after the intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. Additionally, a qualitative exploration will be conducted through interviews with a subgroup of participants.

Pilot Study to Evaluate the Effect of Transcendental Meditation on Telomere Activity and Well-Being Among Nurse Managers

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of a health and coping strategy (Transcendental Meditation, or TM) on Telomere Length and Telomerase Activity (known markers of physiological and psychological stress and aging), Perceived Stress, Work Life Balance, Flourishing, Power as Knowing Participation in Change, and Burnout, among nurse managers. Aim 1: To evaluate the effects of TM compared to usual care delayed instruction on TL and TA. Aim 2: To evaluate the effects of TM compared to usual care delayed instruction on work life climate, flourishing, perceived stress, burnout, and power as knowing participation in change.

Effects of a Second-generation Mindfulness-based Intervention on Quality of Life, Pain Management, and Psycho-spiritual Wellbeing in Cancer Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background This study explores the effectiveness of Meditation Awareness Training (MAT), a second-generation mindfulness-based intervention, in enhancing quality of life, pain management, and psycho-spiritual wellbeing among cancer patients. Existing research underscores the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in alleviating psychological distress and improving overall quality of life for cancer patients. However, first-generation MBIs often exclude traditional Buddhist concepts such as impermanence and emptiness, Consequently, this can result in a superficial application that may not fully engage with the underlying causes of psychological distress or promote long-term spiritual and psychological growth. In contrast, second-generation MBIs like MAT aim to reintegrate these wisdom principles, potentially offering deeper psycho-spiritual benefits. By incorporating concepts like impermanence and emptiness, these interventions encourage a more holistic understanding and acceptance of life's challenges, fostering meaningful perspectives on illness and enhancing both spiritual and psychological wellbeing. This approach seeks to provide a more comprehensive and transformative experience for individuals, particularly those facing serious health challenges such as cancer. Aims The primary aim is to understand the effectiveness of MAT in individuals diagnosed with cancer. The study focuses on: Evaluating the impact of MAT on reducing psychological distress and enhancing pain management and quality of life. Exploring whether practising Buddhist wisdom concepts can foster meaningful perspectives on illness and life, thereby increasing spiritual wellbeing. Determining if MAT participation leads to the establishment of new daily practices and habits among cancer patients. Method The study employs a mixed-methods approach across three phases: Phase 1: A quantitative study using a randomised controlled trial (RCT) design. Participants will be divided into an intervention group (MAT) and a treatment-as-usual (TAU) control group. The effectiveness of MAT will be assessed using psychometric scales at multiple time points (baseline, week 4, week 9 post-intervention, and six-month follow-up). Importantly, participants in the TAU group will be offered the MAT intervention after the completion of the RCT, ensuring that all participants have access to the potential benefits of the intervention. Phase 2: A qualitative exploration using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to gain insights into participants' lived experiences post-MAT intervention. This phase involves semi-structured interviews conducted at one month and six months post-intervention. Phase 3: A content analysis of diary entries collected from participants during the intervention to capture real-time reflections and experiences. Expected Outputs The study aims to provide empirical evidence on the effectiveness of MAT in improving psychological and spiritual wellbeing among cancer patients. It is expected to offer insights into how Buddhist wisdom can be integrated back into clinical mindfulness practices to enhance their impact. The findings could inform clinical practices and contribute to the development of more holistic mindfulness-based interventions for cancer care. Project Timelines Recruitment: Began in November 2024. Phase 1: The RCT is aimed to begin in the first quarter of 2025, with the intervention lasting 8 weeks, followed by data collection at specified time points. Phase 2: Conduct interviews at one month and six months post-intervention. Phase 3: Collect and analyse diary entries throughout the 8-week intervention. The entire study is structured to ensure comprehensive data collection and analysis, allowing for both quantitative and qualitative insights into the MAT intervention's impact on cancer patients.