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. 2024 Jul 1;15(7):e00711.
doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000711.

Acute and Long-Term Effects of App-Delivered Heartfulness Meditation on Psychological Outcomes and the Endocannabinoid Signaling System in Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Thangam Venkatesan  1 , Cecilia J Hillard  2 , Lina Ayer  3 , Saranya Arumugam  1 , Stacey Culp  4 , Mahima Vyas  5 , Kebire Gofar  5 , Ana Petrova  5 , Olafur S Palsson  6
Affiliations

Acute and Long-Term Effects of App-Delivered Heartfulness Meditation on Psychological Outcomes and the Endocannabinoid Signaling System in Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Thangam Venkatesan et al. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction often triggered by stress. Interventions such as meditation may improve psychological outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but their efficacy and the underlying mechanism are unknown.

Methods: We conducted a 6-week single-arm pilot study to assess the effects of heartfulness meditation (HFM) in CVS using a custom-designed meditation app. Primary outcomes included state and trait anxiety and mood state changes pre vs post-meditation, and secondary outcomes were psychological distress, coping, sleep quality, and HRQoL at baseline and at weeks 3 and 6. Serum concentrations of endocannabinoids N -arachidonylethanolamine and 2-arachidonoylglycerol and related lipids were measured pre- and post-HFM at baseline and week 6.

Results: In 30 treatment completers, there was a significant improvement in state anxiety ( P < 0.001), total mood disturbance ( P < 0.001), and other mood states (all P values < 0.05) across the 3 time points. Trait anxiety was also improved at week 6. There was a significant improvement in psychological distress (Global Severity Index), sleep quality (daytime dysfunction), coping (using religion/spirituality), and HRQoL (mental and physical) across the 3 time points (all P < 0.05). Significant increases in N -arachidonylethanolamine and related lipids N -oleoylethanolamine and palmitoylethanolamide post vs pre-HFM were observed at week 6 ( P < 0.001, 0.002, 0.003, respectively). No adverse effects were noted.

Discussion: App-delivered HFM is feasible, safe, and effective and improves psychological outcomes and augments endocannabinoids. This provides insight into the mechanism underlying HFM and has potential for widespread use as a digital therapeutic in CVS and other disorder of gut-brain interaction.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05961995.

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Conflict of interest statement

Guarantor of the article: Thangam Venkatesan, MD.

Specific author contributions: All authors contributed to this work. T.V. was involved in study concept and design, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data and manuscript preparation and submission. C.J.H. was involved in the study concept and design, manuscript preparation, critical review, and submission. S.C. performed the statistical analysis and was involved in interpretation of data. L.I.: was involved with development of the digital app for the Heartfulness meditation. S.A. was involved in data analysis, interpretation of data, manuscript preparation and submission. M.V. was involved in data analysis, interpretation of data, manuscript preparation and submission. K.G. was involved in the data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of data. O.S.P. was involved in study concept and design, interpretation of data. manuscript preparation and submission. All authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript.

Financial support: The study was funded by a grant from the Department of Medicine, The Ohio State University.

Potential competing interests: T.V. isaconsultant and has received funding from Takeda pharmaceuticals for educational activities, but this does not pose a conflict of interest. C.J. has equity in and is a member of the scientific board of directors for Formulate Biosciences. The other authors do not have any conflicts of interest.

Data: De-identified data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request from the institution. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the Ohio State University and registered with clinicaltrials.gov (Registration number: NCT05961995).

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References

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