Evaluation of the psychobiological, epigenetic and psychometrically assessable effects of a mindfulness based stress reduction program

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

DRKS

Registry ID

DRKS00013950

Enrollment

Registered

2018-02-20

Start date

2015-10-13

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-04-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

chronic stress, resilience

Interventions

Group 1: Implementation of a three-month mindfulness-based stress reduction program. It comprises theoretical background regarding mindfulness based topics as well as psychoeducation regarding stress

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Medical students in their preclinical stage enrolled at the Heidelberg medical faculty 2. Age = 18 years 3. Initial contact in order to describe and elucidate participants regarding the study procedures 4. Internet access for participating in the ecological momentary assessment procedures 5. Provision of written consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Chronic serious physical diseases (especially endocrionological, cardiovascular, neurological, nephrological and hepatic diseases) 2. Chronic serious psychiatric diseases (especially schizophrenic spectrum disorders, severe depression and bipolar disorders) 3. Heavy smoking (= 20 cigarettes daily) 4. Current substance abuse or addictive disorders 5. Permanent intake of psychotropic drugs

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Promoter methylation and mRNA expression as well as the polymorphisms 5-HTTLPR and rs25531 of the SLC6A4 gene are measured from blood. The circadian rhythms of cortisol and alpha-amylase are measured from saliva. Psychometrically assessed stress, mindfulness and coping strategies in everyday life are measured via ecological momentary assessment. All primary endpoints, except polymorphisms, are measured at pre- and post-intervention.	—

Measure

Time frame

Promoter methylation and mRNA expression as well as the polymorphisms 5-HTTLPR and rs25531 of the SLC6A4 gene are measured from blood. The circadian rhythms of cortisol and alpha-amylase are measured from saliva. Psychometrically assessed stress, mindfulness and coping strategies in everyday life are measured via ecological momentary assessment. All primary endpoints, except polymorphisms, are measured at pre- and post-intervention.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Distress tolerance, psychiatric symptoms, interpersonal behavior and empathy, resilience, personality traits, self-compassion, experience of social systems, mindfulness, social support, coping strategies, early life stress, chronic stress, burnout, chronotype, quality of sleep and recent life stress. All secondary endpoints are measured via questionnaires at pre- and post-intervention.	—

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Public ContactBeate Ditzen

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg Institut für Medizinische Psychologie

beate.ditzen@med.uni-heidelberg.de06221/568150

Outcome results

None listed

Source: DRKS (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026