Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of mindfulness training on antenatal blood pressure
Open accessAbstract
Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are one of the greatest causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Mindfulness training (MT) significantly reduces blood pressure in non-pregnant adults, yet MT has not been tested to reduce blood pressure in the prenatal period.Objectives The objectives of this pilot randomized clinical trial were to test the feasibility, acceptability, and effects of MT on rates of HDP among pregnant participants at risk for HDP. Exploratory analyses examined effects of MT on antenatal blood pressure.Study design Participants were randomized to an 8-week phone-delivered MT intervention or usual care. Feasibility was defined by MT completion. Acceptability was defined by participants' satisfaction with the intervention. HDP outcomes were collected by medical chart review. Antenatal blood pressure values were extracted from medical records.Results Twenty-nine participants were randomized to phone-based MT (N = 15) or usual care (N = 14). 73% participants completed >5 MT sessions, indicating that MT was feasible. One hundred percent of participants indicated they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the intervention, suggesting the intervention was acceptable. Rates of HDP were lower in the MT vs. usual care condition (9% vs. 29%; OR: 0.25, 95% C.I.: 0.02-2.65) although this did not reach statistical significance. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were significantly lower at follow up among those randomized to MT vs. usual care.Conclusions Results from this pilot trial suggest that prenatal MT is feasible and acceptable and may be a useful adjunctive preventative treatment for HDP among at-risk pregnant patients.Clinicaltrials gov identifier is NCT03679117.
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The team's prior pilot study demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of MT in pregnant people at risk for HDP.
“Our team was the first to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of MT in a sample of pregnant people at risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).24”
From Prenatal Mindfulness Training and Interoceptive Awareness in Pregnant People at Risk for Hypertensive Disorders. (2024) · cites this paper as [24]
Results of the pilot study identify MT as a potential preventative treatment for HDP in pregnant people identified at risk.
“Results of the pilot study identify MT as a potential preventative treatment for HDP in pregnant people identified at risk.24”
From Prenatal Mindfulness Training and Interoceptive Awareness in Pregnant People at Risk for Hypertensive Disorders. (2024) · cites this paper as [24]
Results from the parent RCT suggested that the intervention was feasible and acceptable in this population.
“Thus, the intervention was designed with flexibility in mind, and results from the parent RCT suggested that the intervention was feasible and acceptable in this population.24”
From Prenatal Mindfulness Training and Interoceptive Awareness in Pregnant People at Risk for Hypertensive Disorders. (2024) · cites this paper as [24]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Bublitz, M. H., Salmoirago-Blotcher, E., Sanapo, L., Ayala, N., Mehta, N., & Bourjeily, G.
- Affiliations
- Brown University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bublitz, Margaret H.
- Venue
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2023-02
- Volume
- 165
- Pages
- 111146
- ISSN
- 0022-3999 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10288303
- OpenAlex
- W4313559750
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 3
- FWCI
- 5.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (am, 339 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Journal of Psychosomatic Research (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL157288)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P20GM103652)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Keywords
- mindfulness training, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, pregnancy, feasibility, acceptability, prenatal care
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Mental Disorders, Blood Pressure, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Personal Satisfaction, Pregnancy, Mindfulness
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