Effect of heartfulness meditation on mental health and gene expression

Effect of heartfulness meditation on stress, anxiety, biomarkers and gene expression profile

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN82860715

Enrollment

Registered

2022-04-06

Start date

2022-03-22

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-01-06

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

Conditions

Stress and anxiety in healthy volunteers Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

Current interventions as of 05/01/2023: Participants will be computer randomized to a Heartfulness meditation arm or a control arm with no specific intervention. The intervention includes daily guided

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Adults above 18 years of age 2. Those who give consent for the study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Individuals less than 18 years of age 2. Active suicidal ideation, current or past diagnoses of manic-depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders or any other psychiatric conditions requiring treatment 3. Individuals with claustrophobia, metal in the body, history of head injury, and current use of psychiatric medications 4. Those who don’t give consent for the study

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Current primary outcome measures as of 05/01/2023: 1. Depression, anxiety and stress measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 2. Biomarkers measured using serological test prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 3. Gene expression profile including transcriptome analysis using mRNA sequencing prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks Previous primary outcome measures: 1. Stress measured with the perceived stress scale (PSS) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 2. Anxiety measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 3. Impostor syndrome measured using the Impostor Syndrome Scale prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 4. Brain changes measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 5. Biomarkers measured using serological test prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 6. Gene expression profile including NFkB (Nuclear Factor kappa B) transcriptome analysis using mRNA sequencing prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks	—

Measure

Time frame

Current primary outcome measures as of 05/01/2023: 1. Depression, anxiety and stress measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 2. Biomarkers measured using serological test prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 3. Gene expression profile including transcriptome analysis using mRNA sequencing prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks Previous primary outcome measures: 1. Stress measured with the perceived stress scale (PSS) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 2. Anxiety measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 3. Impostor syndrome measured using the Impostor Syndrome Scale prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 4. Brain changes measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 5. Biomarkers measured using serological test prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks 6. Gene expression profile including NFkB (Nuclear Factor kappa B) transcriptome analysis using mRNA sequencing prior to the study and at the end of 12 weeks

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Current secondary outcome measures as of 05/01/2023: There are no secondary outcome measures Previous secondary outcome measures: Qualitative experience gathered using interviews at the end of the study	—

Countries

India

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 5, 2026