Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Physician Burnout and Depression

NCT03714204 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 1080108
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This research study will examine the effects of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique on academic physician burnout, depression, insomnia, perceived stress, and resilience through a mixed methods approach.

Conditions

Burnout, Professional; Depression; Insomnia; Perceived Stress; Resilience

Keywords

academic physician burnout; physician burnout; Intervention to reduce physician burnout; physician depression; physician insomnia; physician stress; Transcendental Meditation; TM

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Maslach Burnout Inventory

  measures burnout level

  change from baseline burnout level at four months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Beck Depression Inventory

  change from baseline depression level at four months

• Insomnia Severity Index

  change from baseline insomnia level at four months

• Perceived Stress Scale

  change from baseline perceived stress level at four months

• Brief Resilience Inventory

  change from baseline resilience level at four months

Other Outcomes (1)

• Personal Interview with researcher

  baseline, 4-months

Study Arms (2)

Transcendental Meditation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this group each received the intervention of 5 initial class instructions in the Transcendental Meditation technique, followed by 6 additional classes over the 4-month study period. Group participants were expected to practice the technique for 20 minutes twice per day for 4-months.

Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation technique

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to this group served as wait-list controls

Interventions

Transcendental Meditation technique BEHAVIORAL

The TM technique is a simple mental procedure that is categorized in the automatic self-transcending category of meditation practices. It is automatic in that it does not involve any concentration or control. It allows the mental activity to settle down in a spontaneous and natural manner during a process called transcending, or going beyond, until it reaches a state beyond conscious thinking. Correspondingly, the body settles down to a deep state of rest which allows stress to dissolve and the nervous system to rejuvenate The effortless nature of the TM practice coupled with the vast research supporting its efficacy, its systematic standardized teaching program and the fact that it does not involve any belief or change in one's lifestyle made it the choice intervention for this research.

Transcendental Meditation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Have an MD degree
• Be an academic attending physician at the Loyola Chicago School of Medicine or Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital
• Commit to attend all required sessions for learning the Transcendental Meditation (TM)technique and monthly follow-ups
• Agree to practice TM twice daily for 20 minutes for the 4-month study period
• Agree to complete both pre-and post-testing (at 1-month and 4-months) including both the entry and exit interviews.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Marie Loiselle: lead
• Loyola University Chicago: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine

Maywood, Illinois, 60153, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Professional; Depression; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Occupational Stress; Occupational Diseases; Burnout, Psychological; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Marie Loiselle, PhD

  Outside Researcher

  STUDY CHAIR

• Gregory Gruener, MD

  Vice-Dean of Education

  STUDY DIRECTOR

• Carla L Brown, PhD

  Adjunct Professor

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: The names of individual participants
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher

Model Details: Randomized controlled trial

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2018
• First Posted: October 22, 2018
• Study Start: August 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2016
• Study Completion: September 30, 2016
• Last Updated: October 19, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: Will be available six months after publication
• Access Criteria: To be determined

Locations

US (1)