MindfulnessRetreatNCT05516355

Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of a Retreat Based on Mindfulness and Compassion for Stress Reduction.

A study testing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Compassion Cultivation Training in people with Mindfulness and Compassion, run by Universidad Complutense de Madrid at 1 site in Spain.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

The study is aimed at comparing the differential effects of two widely used standardized meditation programs: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) delivered in a retreat format with a cross-over design in a general population sample of healthy adults. Read more about this study

Who is it for?: Ages 25 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for: Mindfulness, Compassion, Psychophysiologic Reaction
What is being tested?: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Compassion Cultivation Training
Type of treatment: Lifestyle or therapy programme
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 49 participants
Where: 1 siteSpain
Study dates: 1 Jul 2022to 30 Aug 2022
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 25 to 65 years
All sexes
Healthy volunteers accepted
Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

Healthy adult participants.

Who cannot join

Current or past self-reported diagnosable serious or disabling mental disorder (in particular, PTSD, major depression, psychotic disorders, and/or Use of alcohol or drugs disorders).
Presenting current health conditions that might affect the immune system (i.e. autoimmune disease, chronic severe infections, HIV, cancer) or past history of the same (less than 5 years from total recovery).
Presenting current habits that might affect the immune system (i.e. smoking, alcoholism, substance abuse).
Being under medical treatment that might affect the immune system response and inflammatory processes (i.e. corticoids).
Travelling from a different time zone/long-travel times that might affect the immune system.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Spain1 site

Universidad Complutense de Madrid - Faculty of Psychology
Madrid, 28223

Other trials in Spain

About this study

Read the detailed description

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of two mindfulness-based intensive interventions: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training or Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT), on psychological, physiological and epigenetic changes in a population of health volunteer adults. During a 7-day retreat participants will be randomised to two study arms: group 1 and 2, beginning either with a 3-day MBSR training or a 3-day CCT training. On the 4th day they will cross-over to the opposite intervention.

To address this goal, the effects will be measured by self-report questionnaires belonging to different domains (mindfulness, compassion, well-being, psychological distress, and psychological functioning), psychophysiological measures (EEG resting state, Diurnal cortisol slope, EKG and respiration patterns), epigenetic changes (DNA methylation biomarkers) and an objective stress task (Arithmetic Stress Test). Psychobiological outcome measures will be collected from both groups on day 1 (pre-intervention), on day 4 (post intervention and before beginning of the second intervention). The third assessment will be conducted on day 7 for both groups (post-second intervention). A 6-month follow-up assessment will be carried in both groups only for psychological questionnaires.

Data analysis will include change scores in psychological outcome measures as well as DNA methylation (by EPIC arrays) and gene expression (RNA-seq) measures.

Conditions: Mindfulness, Compassion, Psychophysiologic Reaction, Psychological Distress, Emotion Regulation, Stress
Being tested: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Compassion Cultivation Training
Keywords: MBSR, CCT, Mindfulness, Compassion, Epigenetics, Stress
Medical subject headings: Emotional Regulation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionBehavioural
Also called MBSR
The MBSR is an 8-week standardized program (Kabat-Zinn,1990).
During the retreat, participants will receive intensive training during 3 days (from 4:00pm to 9pm the first day and from 7 am to 10 pm including breaks, the second and third days), including focused attention on the breath, open monitoring of awareness in body-scanning, prosocial meditation (i.e. loving kindness and compassion) and gentle yoga. Training is delivered by certified instructors by the University of Massachusetts Centre for Mindfulness (https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/).
Compassion Cultivation TrainingBehavioural
Also called CCT
The CCT is an 8-week standardized program (Jinpa, 2010; Jazaieri et al. 2013, 2014) consisting of daily formal and informal practices.
Training will be conducted during 3 days of the retreat (same schedule as the MBSR training). The CCT consists of six sequential steps: 1) Settling the mind and learn how to focus it; 2) Loving kindness and compassion for a loved one practice; 3) Loving kindness and compassion for oneself practice; 4) compassion toward others, embracing shared common humanity and developing appreciation of others; 5) compassion toward others including all beings; and 6) active compassion practices (Tonglen) which involve explicit evocation of the altruistic wish to do something about others' suffering. CCT program is delivered by certified instructors by the University of Stanford Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (http://ccare.stanford.edu/).

Study groups in NCT05516355
Study group	Role	What they receive
Group 1 (MBSR + CCT)	Experimental	Group 1 will begin the retreat with a 3-day MBSR intervention. On day 4 of the retreat, they will crossover and begin a 3-day CCT intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Behavioral: Compassion Cultivation Training
Group 2 (CCT + MBSR)	Experimental	Group 2 will begin the retreat with a 3-day CCT intervention. On day 4 of the retreat, they will crossover and begin a 3-day MBSR intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction; Behavioral: Compassion Cultivation Training

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

Epigenetic changes
Blood samples: 20 ml collected in the standard tubes used in clinical haematology that contain EDTA as an anticoagulant. From this biological material, DNA and RNA will be extracted according to the standard molecular biology procedures, in order to subsequently measure DNA methylation (by EPIC arrays) and gene expression (RNA-seq), respectively.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Change in Psychological distress
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995). The DASS-21 is a 21-item scale containing 3 subscales (Anxiety, Depression and Stress), with 7 items for each subscale. Participants are asked to rate each item using 4-point Likert scale (0=Not applicable to me; 3=Very applicable to me). Higher scores correspond to higher levels of severity of anxiety, stress, and depression.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Stress Reactivity
Mathematical Stress Test: a standardized laboratory stress induction procedure (Kirshbaum et al., 1992). Individuals are asked to repeatedly subtract a given 2-digit number from a 4-digit number. Time is limited to 3 minutes and participants are told that this is a mental speed task and their performance will be evaluated. Stress levels will be evaluated with an affective adjective checklist (PANAS scales).
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Change in Resting State Activity
EEG resting state (alternating open and closed eyes). EEG resting state will be recorded with four 64-channel EEG devices with laptop and eego EEG recording software. The sampling rate will be 1000 Hz and the reference to be used will be 7Z of the equidistant layout.
The interventions will significantly change the EEG spectral profile of the resting state brain activity. We expect changes in the balance between Alpha (8-14 Hz) and Theta (4-8 Hz) frequency bands.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Change in Cortisol activity
Cortisol samples 1.5 - 2.0 ml will be collected in Salivette® cortisol saliva sample collection tubes (Sarstedt, Germany) that contain sterile cotton plugs for sample absorption. From this biological material, levels of the principal stress corticosteroid, the hormone cortisol, will be assessed in order to subsequently measure the Diurnal Cortisol Slope and cortisol levels at awakening and bedtime.
Using saliva collection tubes, levels of the principal stress corticosteroid, the hormone cortisol, will be assessed in order to subsequently measure the Diurnal Cortisol Slope and cortisol levels at awakening and bedtime at three different moments of the retreat.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program
Change in Emotion regulation in retrieving autobiographical negative memories
A 10-min guided test to retrieve one personally painful memory. Affect changes will be asssed before and after the task by using a checklist of affective adjectives (PANAS).
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)

Secondary outcomes (13)

Change in Mindfulness State
State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) - (Tanay y Bernstein, 2013). The SMS has 21 items with a response scale from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very well) to indicate how well the statements describe their current mindfulness state. Higher scores represent higher states of current mindfulness.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Mindfulness - Adverse Effects
Meditation-Related Adverse Effects Scale - Mindfulness-Based Program (MRAESMBP) -Britton et al. (2018). This is an 11-item scale measuring the frequency of challenging or distressful experiences during meditation practice.
Measured: Mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Compassion - State self-compassion
State Self-compassion Scale (SSCS), (Neff et al., 2021). It is a 6-item scale measuring compassion towards oneself using a 5-'point scale (1=Not at all true for me; 5= Very true for me). HIgher scores indicate higher levels of self-compassion.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Compassion - Fear of Compassion
We will use the Fear of Expressing Compassion towards yourself subscale from the Fear of Compassion Scale (Gilbert et al. (2011). This is a 15-item scale to assess individuals' difficulties to feel or express self-compassion. We by using a 5-point Likert scale (0=Don't agree at all; 4=Completely agree). Higher scores indicate higher levels of fear of compassion towards oneself.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in current mood
A scale measuring current general positive and negative mood (PANAS). It includes 20 adjectives (10 positive, 10 negative) to assess current mood in a scale from 1 (Not all) to 5 (Extremely). Higher scores represent higher positive or negative mood states. We will use the sum of positive items and negative items to provide two separate overall scores.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Psychological well-being - Satisfaction with life
Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), (Diener et al., 1985). This is a 5-item scale assessing satisfaction with life. Higher scores indicate higher levels of satisfaction with life.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Somatic Symptoms
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15), (Kroenke et al., 2002). The PHQ-15 comprises 15 somatic symptoms from the PHQ, each symptom scored from 0 ("not bothered at all") to 2 ("bothered a lot"). A sum score will be used to analyze somatic symptoms.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Emotion Regulation
State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (S-DERS-21), (Lavender et al., 2017). This is a 21-item scale in which participants rate their difficulties to regulate their mood in a 5-point Likert scale (1=Not alll; 5=Completely). Higher scores indicate more difficulties in emotion regulation.
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Anxiety state and trait
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-20), (Spielberger et al., 1983)
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Sleep difficulties
DSM-5 sleep difficulties (APA, 2013). This is the single item included in the Self-rated level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (DSM-5, APA 2013). It measures quality of sleep using a 5-point scale (0=Very good; 4= Very bad).
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Program satisfaction
Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)- Atkinson and Zwicq (1982). It measures satisfaction with the course of psychological interventions. Participants must rate their satisfaction on 8 items in 4-point scale. Higher scores indicate higher satisfaction with the program.
Measured: Mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Daily assessments of psychological functioning
Experience Sampling Methods on measures of: mindfulness, mind wandering, compassion to others, self-compassion, wellbeing, richness of life, and utility of the contents of the program that day. These are 'ad hoc' single items, taken from well-validated measures, to have a quick daily assessment of psychological functioning. Each item is assessed in a 5-point Likert scale (0=Never; 4= Always).
Measured: Daily, at the end of the day, during the 7-day retreat
Change in Affect
Hedonic and Arousal Affect Scale (HAAS), (Roca et al., 2021). This is a 12-item scale measuring affective states by including adjectives low or high in arousal and positive or negative in valence. Participants are asked to rate their affective experiences in a 5-point Likert scale (0=Not at all; 4= Absolutely).
Measured: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

1 Jul 202230 Aug 2022

First posted25 Aug 2022
Study start1 Jul 2022
Primary completion30 Aug 2022
Study completion30 Aug 2022

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Publications (29)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
Other trials for MindfulnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
More trials run by Universidad Complutense de MadridThe sponsor's other registered studies.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Basic science
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Crossover
Masking: Triple blind
Who is masked: Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment: 49 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05516355
Sponsor's protocol ID: ESCORIAL RETREAT 2022
Acronym: Retreat
Status last verified: Nov 2022
First submitted: 21 Aug 2022
Last updated: 4 Nov 2022
Results posted: No
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No

Publications

Alvarez-Lopez MJ, Conklin QA, Cosin-Tomas M, Shields GS, King BG, Zanesco AP, Kaliman P, Saron CD. Changes in the expression of inflammatory and epigenetic-modulatory genes after an intensive meditation retreat. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol. 2022 Jun 23;11:100152. doi: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100152. eCollection 2022 Aug.
PubMed 35818436
Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. v., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., & Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230-241. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy/bph077
Chambers, R., Lo, B. C. Y., & Allen, N. B. (2008). The impact of intensive mindfulness training on attentional control, cognitive style, and affect. Cognitive therapy and research, 32(3), 303-322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-007-9119-0
Chiesa A, Calati R, Serretti A. Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clin Psychol Rev. 2011 Apr;31(3):449-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.11.003. Epub 2010 Dec 1.
PubMed 21183265
Cohen, J. N., Jensen, D., Stange, J. P., Neuburger, M., & Heimberg, R. G. (2017). The immediate and long-term effects of an intensive meditation retreat. Mindfulness, 8(4), 1064-1077.
Davidson RJ, Kaszniak AW. Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. Am Psychol. 2015 Oct;70(7):581-92. doi: 10.1037/a0039512.
PubMed 26436310
Fransquet PD, Wrigglesworth J, Woods RL, Ernst ME, Ryan J. The epigenetic clock as a predictor of disease and mortality risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Epigenetics. 2019 Apr 11;11(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13148-019-0656-7.
PubMed 30975202
Galante J, Friedrich C, Dawson AF, Modrego-Alarcon M, Gebbing P, Delgado-Suarez I, Gupta R, Dean L, Dalgleish T, White IR, Jones PB. Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS Med. 2021 Jan 11;18(1):e1003481. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003481. eCollection 2021 Jan.
PubMed 33428616
Garland, E. L., Kiken, L. G., Faurot, K., Palsson, O., & Gaylord, S. A. (2017). Upward spirals of mindfulness and reappraisal: Testing the mindfulness-to-meaning theory with autoregressive latent trajectory modeling. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 41(3), 381-392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-016-9768-y
Goldberg SB, Tucker RP, Greene PA, Davidson RJ, Wampold BE, Kearney DJ, Simpson TL. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2018 Feb;59:52-60. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2017.10.011. Epub 2017 Nov 8.
PubMed 29126747
Hirshberg MJ, Goldberg SB, Rosenkranz M, Davidson RJ. Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychol Med. 2022 Apr;52(6):1080-1088. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720002834. Epub 2020 Aug 18.
PubMed 32807249
Kaliman P. Epigenetics and meditation. Curr Opin Psychol. 2019 Aug;28:76-80. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.010. Epub 2018 Nov 22.
PubMed 30522005
Kaliman P, Alvarez-Lopez MJ, Cosin-Tomas M, Rosenkranz MA, Lutz A, Davidson RJ. Rapid changes in histone deacetylases and inflammatory gene expression in expert meditators. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Feb;40:96-107. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.11.004. Epub 2013 Nov 15.
PubMed 24485481
Khoury B, Knauper B, Schlosser M, Carriere K, Chiesa A. Effectiveness of traditional meditation retreats: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res. 2017 Jan;92:16-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.11.006. Epub 2016 Nov 18.
PubMed 27998508
Khoury B, Sharma M, Rush SE, Fournier C. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: A meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res. 2015 Jun;78(6):519-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2015.03.009. Epub 2015 Mar 20.
PubMed 25818837

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

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Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Nov 2022. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of a Retreat Based on Mindfulness and Compassion for Stress Reduction.
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05516355
Acronym / sponsor ID: Retreat / ESCORIAL RETREAT 2022
Conditions: Mindfulness, Compassion, Psychophysiologic Reaction, Psychological Distress, Emotion Regulation, Stress
Keywords: MBSR, CCT, Mindfulness, Compassion, Epigenetics, Stress
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 49 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: Universidad Complutense de MadridUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 1 Jul 2022 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Aug 2022 (actual)
Study completion: 30 Aug 2022 (actual)
First posted: 25 Aug 2022 (actual)
Results: Not posted in the source record

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Detailed description

Data analysis will include change scores in psychological outcome measures as well as DNA methylation (by EPIC arrays) and gene expression (RNA-seq) measures.

Study design

Primary purpose: Basic science
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Crossover
Masking: Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
Group 1 (MBSR + CCT)	Experimental	Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Behavioral: Compassion Cultivation TrainingGroup 1 will begin the retreat with a 3-day MBSR intervention. On day 4 of the retreat, they will crossover and begin a 3-day CCT intervention.
Group 2 (CCT + MBSR)	Experimental	Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Behavioral: Compassion Cultivation TrainingGroup 2 will begin the retreat with a 3-day CCT intervention. On day 4 of the retreat, they will crossover and begin a 3-day MBSR intervention.

Who may qualify

Ages: 25 to 65 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Accepted
Age groups: Adult, Older adult

Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)

Healthy adult participants.

Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)

Current or past self-reported diagnosable serious or disabling mental disorder (in particular, PTSD, major depression, psychotic disorders, and/or Use of alcohol or drugs disorders).
Presenting current health conditions that might affect the immune system (i.e. autoimmune disease, chronic severe infections, HIV, cancer) or past history of the same (less than 5 years from total recovery).
Presenting current habits that might affect the immune system (i.e. smoking, alcoholism, substance abuse).
Being under medical treatment that might affect the immune system response and inflammatory processes (i.e. corticoids).
Travelling from a different time zone/long-travel times that might affect the immune system.

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
Mindfulness-Based Stress ReductionAlso: MBSRThe MBSR is an 8-week standardized program (Kabat-Zinn,1990). During the retreat, participants will receive intensive training during 3 days (from 4:00pm to 9pm the first day and from 7 am to 10 pm including breaks, the second and third days), including focused attention on the breath, open monitoring of awareness in body-scanning, prosocial meditation (i.e. loving kindness and compassion) and gentle yoga. Training is delivered by certified instructors by the University of Massachusetts Centre for Mindfulness (https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/).	Behavioural	Group 1 (MBSR + CCT), Group 2 (CCT + MBSR)
Compassion Cultivation TrainingAlso: CCTThe CCT is an 8-week standardized program (Jinpa, 2010; Jazaieri et al. 2013, 2014) consisting of daily formal and informal practices. Training will be conducted during 3 days of the retreat (same schedule as the MBSR training). The CCT consists of six sequential steps: 1) Settling the mind and learn how to focus it; 2) Loving kindness and compassion for a loved one practice; 3) Loving kindness and compassion for oneself practice; 4) compassion toward others, embracing shared common humanity and developing appreciation of others; 5) compassion toward others including all beings; and 6) active compassion practices (Tonglen) which involve explicit evocation of the altruistic wish to do something about others' suffering. CCT program is delivered by certified instructors by the University of Stanford Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (http://ccare.stanford.edu/).	Behavioural	Group 1 (MBSR + CCT), Group 2 (CCT + MBSR)

Primary outcome

Epigenetic changes
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Blood samples: 20 ml collected in the standard tubes used in clinical haematology that contain EDTA as an anticoagulant. From this biological material, DNA and RNA will be extracted according to the standard molecular biology procedures, in order to subsequently measure DNA methylation (by EPIC arrays) and gene expression (RNA-seq), respectively.
Change in Psychological distress
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995). The DASS-21 is a 21-item scale containing 3 subscales (Anxiety, Depression and Stress), with 7 items for each subscale. Participants are asked to rate each item using 4-point Likert scale (0=Not applicable to me; 3=Very applicable to me). Higher scores correspond to higher levels of severity of anxiety, stress, and depression.
Change in Stress Reactivity
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Mathematical Stress Test: a standardized laboratory stress induction procedure (Kirshbaum et al., 1992). Individuals are asked to repeatedly subtract a given 2-digit number from a 4-digit number. Time is limited to 3 minutes and participants are told that this is a mental speed task and their performance will be evaluated. Stress levels will be evaluated with an affective adjective checklist (PANAS scales).
Change in Resting State Activity
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
EEG resting state (alternating open and closed eyes). EEG resting state will be recorded with four 64-channel EEG devices with laptop and eego EEG recording software. The sampling rate will be 1000 Hz and the reference to be used will be 7Z of the equidistant layout. The interventions will significantly change the EEG spectral profile of the resting state brain activity. We expect changes in the balance between Alpha (8-14 Hz) and Theta (4-8 Hz) frequency bands.
Change in Cortisol activity
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program
Cortisol samples 1.5 - 2.0 ml will be collected in Salivette® cortisol saliva sample collection tubes (Sarstedt, Germany) that contain sterile cotton plugs for sample absorption. From this biological material, levels of the principal stress corticosteroid, the hormone cortisol, will be assessed in order to subsequently measure the Diurnal Cortisol Slope and cortisol levels at awakening and bedtime. Using saliva collection tubes, levels of the principal stress corticosteroid, the hormone cortisol, will be assessed in order to subsequently measure the Diurnal Cortisol Slope and cortisol levels at awakening and bedtime at three different moments of the retreat.
Change in Emotion regulation in retrieving autobiographical negative memories
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
A 10-min guided test to retrieve one personally painful memory. Affect changes will be asssed before and after the task by using a checklist of affective adjectives (PANAS).

13 secondary outcomes

Change in Mindfulness State
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Mindfulness - Adverse Effects
Time frame: Mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Compassion - State self-compassion
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Compassion - Fear of Compassion
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in current mood
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Psychological well-being - Satisfaction with life
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Somatic Symptoms
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Emotion Regulation
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Anxiety state and trait
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Change in Sleep difficulties
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)
Program satisfaction
Time frame: Mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)
Daily assessments of psychological functioning
Time frame: Daily, at the end of the day, during the 7-day retreat
Change in Affect
Time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program), and 3-month follow-up (T4)

Results and safety

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Nov 2022.
Background: PubMed 35818436Alvarez-Lopez MJ, Conklin QA, Cosin-Tomas M, Shields GS, King BG, Zanesco AP, Kaliman P, Saron CD. Changes in the expression of inflammatory and epigenetic-modulatory genes after an intensive meditation retreat. Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol. 2022 Jun 23;11:100152. doi: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100152. eCollection 2022 Aug.
BackgroundBishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., Segal, Z. v., Abbey, S., Speca, M., Velting, D., & Devins, G. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11(3), 230-241. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy/bph077
BackgroundChambers, R., Lo, B. C. Y., & Allen, N. B. (2008). The impact of intensive mindfulness training on attentional control, cognitive style, and affect. Cognitive therapy and research, 32(3), 303-322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-007-9119-0
Background: PubMed 21183265Chiesa A, Calati R, Serretti A. Does mindfulness training improve cognitive abilities? A systematic review of neuropsychological findings. Clin Psychol Rev. 2011 Apr;31(3):449-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.11.003. Epub 2010 Dec 1.
BackgroundCohen, J. N., Jensen, D., Stange, J. P., Neuburger, M., & Heimberg, R. G. (2017). The immediate and long-term effects of an intensive meditation retreat. Mindfulness, 8(4), 1064-1077.
Background: PubMed 26436310Davidson RJ, Kaszniak AW. Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. Am Psychol. 2015 Oct;70(7):581-92. doi: 10.1037/a0039512.
Background: PubMed 30975202Fransquet PD, Wrigglesworth J, Woods RL, Ernst ME, Ryan J. The epigenetic clock as a predictor of disease and mortality risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Epigenetics. 2019 Apr 11;11(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13148-019-0656-7.
Background: PubMed 33428616Galante J, Friedrich C, Dawson AF, Modrego-Alarcon M, Gebbing P, Delgado-Suarez I, Gupta R, Dean L, Dalgleish T, White IR, Jones PB. Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS Med. 2021 Jan 11;18(1):e1003481. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003481. eCollection 2021 Jan.
BackgroundGarland, E. L., Kiken, L. G., Faurot, K., Palsson, O., & Gaylord, S. A. (2017). Upward spirals of mindfulness and reappraisal: Testing the mindfulness-to-meaning theory with autoregressive latent trajectory modeling. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 41(3), 381-392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-016-9768-y
Background: PubMed 29126747Goldberg SB, Tucker RP, Greene PA, Davidson RJ, Wampold BE, Kearney DJ, Simpson TL. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. 2018 Feb;59:52-60. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2017.10.011. Epub 2017 Nov 8.
Background: PubMed 32807249Hirshberg MJ, Goldberg SB, Rosenkranz M, Davidson RJ. Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychol Med. 2022 Apr;52(6):1080-1088. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720002834. Epub 2020 Aug 18.
Background: PubMed 30522005Kaliman P. Epigenetics and meditation. Curr Opin Psychol. 2019 Aug;28:76-80. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.11.010. Epub 2018 Nov 22.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No

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Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Carmelo Vazquez, Ph.D. principal investigator

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Compassion Cultivation Training in people with Mindfulness and Compassion, run by Universidad Complutense de Madrid at 1 site in Spain.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Nov 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Epigenetic changes (time frame: Pre-intervention (T1: Day 1 in the 7-day program), mid-intervention (T2: Day 4 in the 7-day program), and post-intervention (T3: Day 7 in the 7-day program)). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05516355, which also lists 29 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Nov 2022; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.