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Automatic Self Transcending Meditation (ASTM) Versus Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Biofeedback in Patients With Late Life Depression (LLD): a Longitudinal Pilot Feasibility Study

NCT01908673 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 8

Last updated 2014-02-26

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background: Depression in the elderly, also known as late life depression (LLD) is common and its prevalence ranges from 2 to 6% in the community. Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a physiological autonomic variable is reduced in LLD and this might have implications for cardiovascular events including death. Methods to improve HRV in LLD have not been adequately assessed. Automatic Self-Transcending Meditation (ASTM) is a simple yet powerful technique that allows the mind to become calm and peaceful. HRV biofeedback is a method of teaching individuals to voluntarily improve HRV and other physiological functions to a prescribed range.This pilot study attempts to investigate feasibility of these interventions and provide preliminary data regarding the effectiveness of these techniques.

Hypothesis: ASTM and HRV biofeedback are feasible and their effectiveness for improving HRV in patients with LLD can be assessed.

Methods: Participants with LLD between the ages of 66 and 80 will be randomized to either ASTM or HRV biofeedback after optimizing them on antidepressant therapy. Participants will receive training and continue practice in either of these techniques over a period of twelve weeks. HRV and secondary measures will be assessed pre and post at the end of study period.

Expected Results and Significance: The investigators expect to find both techniques to be feasible treatments for those with LLD. Results from this pilot study will help to assess the potential for successful implementation of a future larger study which will evaluate the efficacy of these treatments for improving HRV.

Conditions

  • Late Life Depression

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

HRV biofeedback

BEHAVIORAL

ASTM

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Akshya Vasudev, MBBS MD MRCPSych · Western University, Canada

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
66 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2013-08-31
Primary Completion
2014-02-28
Completion
2014-02-28

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01908673 on ClinicalTrials.gov