Meditation as effective as medication for anxiety, study find

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“For both treatments, we had people who said, ‘This really worked,’” said study author Dr. Elizabeth Hoge

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About 6.8 million adults in the U.S. have generalized anxiety disorder, but less than half receive treatment, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America.

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The two-month study included 276 patients diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Half were given a common antidepressant — escitalopram (brand name: Lexapro) — and the other half participated in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program.

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Both groups reported moderate improvements: a 20% reduction in symptoms at the end of the study, regardless of their treatment

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The study “shows there are alternative options that don’t involve medicine to help treat anxiety, that are just as effective,” said Lindsey McKernan,

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Side effects were more common among those who received the antidepressant; nearly 80% of the participants experienced at least one side effect, such as trouble sleeping, nausea, headaches, decreased libido and increased anxiety.

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The mindfulness program, however, was time-consuming: Participants were required to attend twice weekly 2 1/2-hour group classes for eight weeks, plus one full day at a meditation retreat. In addition, they were told to practice meditating for 45 minutes each day for the entire study period.

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