The purpose of this study is to evaluate a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention delivered over the phone (MBCT-T) for women with prehypertension. MBCT-T is an evidence-based program that teaches meditation practices and cognitive strategies to reduce stress and negative emotions. It targets psychosocial risk factors that disproportionately affect women, including rumination (i.e., negative thinking) and low social support. Investigators plan to translate the established MBCT-T program into Spanish, conduct focus groups to inform cultural adaptations that may be needed for Latina women, and run a pilot randomized controlled trial to test the feasibility, acceptability and effects of MBCT-T on blood pressure and perceived stress in diverse women with prehypertension.
Chronic stress is associated with the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Reducing stress may be a useful prevention strategy for people at elevated risk of hypertension, including those with prehypertension. Women report different types of stress than men and may need tailored stress management programs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
106
This 8-week program combines mindfulness training with cognitive therapy and is delivered to small groups of patients by telephone using a conference line. Each weekly session is 1 hour long and is comprised of a check-in period, teaching on the week's topic, group discussion, a skill-building exercise, and a home-based practice assignment.
Treatment guidelines recommend counseling patients with prehypertension on the importance of lifestyle modification to reduce BP. Because of variability in counseling across primary care practices, the study team will provide all participants with NHLBI print educational materials to ensure exposure to lifestyle recommendations: "Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure"; and "Facts about the DASH Eating Plan".
New York University School of Medicine
New York, New York, United States
Blood pressure
The mean of three BP readings taken by a trained RA with an automated and validated BP monitor (Microlife WatchBP Office) will be recorded at each visit. Participants will be seated comfortably for 5 minutes with feet flat on the ground prior to measurements. The device will take three readings at 2-minute intervals.
Time frame: 3 Months
Perceived stress
Items are rated on a 5-point scale, and higher total scores indicate greater perceived stress.
Time frame: 3 Months
Measure of Depressive Symptoms using the PHQ-8
The PHQ-8 is a validated measure of depressive symptoms during the prior two weeks based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depression. The PHQ-8 will be completed at screening; patients with scores ≥10, suggestive of clinically significant depressive symptoms, will be excluded and provided with treatment referrals.
Time frame: 3 Months
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