Mindfulness worked as well for anxiety as drug

Mindfulness meditation worked as well as a standard drug for treating anxiety in the first head-to-head comparison.

The study tested a widely used mindfulness program that includes 2 ½ hours of classes weekly and 45 minutes of daily practice at home.

Participants were randomly assigned to the program or daily use of a generic drug sold under the brand name Lexapro for depression and anxiety.

After two months, anxiety as measured on a severity scale declined by about 30% in both groups and continued to decrease during the following four months.

Anxiety disorders include social anxiety, generalized anxiety and panic attacks.