Anxiety Study

Comparative Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Pharmacotherapy for Anxiety

What we are studying

We want to examine the effects of mindfulness meditation as compared to an antidepressant medication in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Time Commitment

8 weeks of treatment with a medication or non-medication treatment. There will also be eight study visits. There will also be follow up visits at weeks 12 and 24.

Eligibility

Individuals with any of the following anxiety disorders:

• social anxiety disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder
• panic disorder
• agoraphobia.

If you experience anxiety-related symptoms (consistent and frequent worries, stress, and/or anxiety) and think you may qualify, you may qualify. You do not need a prior diagnosis to be eligible.

Compensation

$160 total ($20 for each of the eight study visits)

General Timeline

• Screening Period:
  • A 30-minute phone call
  • An in-person screen to determine eligibility (meet with a certified clinician, complete surveys, have an EKG and your blood drawn to ensure you are medically healthy to participate)
• Treatment Period:
  • 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Course OR 8 weeks of daily antidepressant medication (escitalopram/lexapro)

*participants will have a 50% chance of being assigned to either the MBSR group OR to the medication group*

• Study Activities May Include:
  • Meeting with a study coordinator
  • Completing questionnaires
  • Symptom-related interviews with verified clinicians
  • Phone call check-ins
• Study Duration:
  • 24 weeks
    • Only 8 of those weeks will involve active participation
    • Follow up visits at week 12 and at week 24