Evaluating an 8-week Mindfulness Program and Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Emotional Distress and Anxiety Using Brain Activity Measures in Adults Aged 18 to 50

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a standardized Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress MIED compared to Progressive Muscle Relaxation PMR in adults aged 18 to 50 with subclinical emotional distress. The study aims to understand how MIED may reduce anxiety symptoms and change emotional processing in the brain, measured using multimodal EEG techniques. This randomized controlled trial involves 160 participants and includes assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups an 8-week MIED program or an 8-week PMR active control. Both groups attend weekly 2.5-hour group sessions and complete daily 15-minute home practice, with MIED using a mobile app and PMR using audio guidance. The MIED program focuses on mindfulness practices such as mindful breathing, body scan, walking, and loving-kindness meditation, while PMR focuses on muscle relaxation techniques progressing from major muscle groups to full-body relaxation. During the study, participants undergo assessments at baseline, after the 8-week intervention, and at a one-month follow-up. These include psychological questionnaires measuring anxiety, depression, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and emotional behavior, as well as EEG scans to evaluate brain activity related to emotional processing. Brief online tracking occurs at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Researchers will analyze changes in anxiety symptoms and neuroplasticity, monitoring safety and adherence throughout the study period.

Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress: An EEG Study