Automatic Self Transcending Meditation Versus Treatment as Usual

Depression is a leading contributor to global burden of disease. Antidepressants do not provide adequate response for many patients. Mind-body therapies are often safe, increasingly embraced by patients, however good quality clinical trial data is limited. The PI has shown that there is autonomic instability in patients with late life depression (LLD). Through his team of across discipline researchers he will investigate benefits of one adjunctive mind-body intervention, automatic self transcending meditation on autonomic instability in LLD and depressive symptoms compared to treatment as usual. If results are positive, such an intervention could be used for management of LLD across all levels of care. WHAT IS THE INNOVATION AND MAIN QUESTION/HYPOTHESIS UNDERLYING THIS PROPOSAL? The main study objectives are to assess heart rate variability (HRV), other autonomic parameters and depression scores in patients with late life depression undergoing an innovative mind-body therapy \'automatic self-transcending meditation\' (ASTM) not previously evaluated in a randomized controlled manner in the treatment of late life depression. It is expected that adding ASTM to TAU will be better than TAU in improving HRV, depression severity and other autonomic parameters in the treatment of LLD. It is expected that this intervention will produce significant anxiolytic and enhanced quality of life outcomes and will have no major side effects. If the results of this study are positive, it is possible that this intervention could be considered as treatment option for the management of this disabling illness in primary, secondary and tertiary care. Such treatment option would be more cost and staff effective, and self empowering than the current standard of care. It could also provide treatment options for patients who are currently resistant to their antidepressants.