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Is Mindfulness Effective for Anxiety? It May Be As Effective As Medication

Andrew Badham 2024-10-17 16:16:24

Is mindfulness just as good as medication for treating anxiety? Well, this study published in October 2024 seems to think so. At least, that is for a specific medication, Escitalopram, which is a commonly used SSRI.

The randomised trial split participants into two groups: one that was prescribed the medication and the other which received weekly classes of theory and practice in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction.

The study found no significant difference in patient outcomes by the end of the trial; although, at week 4, the medication seemed to be more effective. Interestingly the Mindfulness group had fewer adverse events than the medication group.

Now, one thing that might have skewed results is that the mindfulness group had more face-to-face time with their instructors, which could have been beneficial by itself.

So, does this mean medication doesn’t work? Nope! And you should always check with your doctor before starting or stopping medication. It does show that, if you’re struggling with anxiety, mindfulness would probably be a very effective tool for you.