A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (1992; 149(7): 946–949) examined the effects of meditation in 22 patients diagnosed with anxiety or panic disorder. Participants were evaluated using both self-assessment questionnaires and therapist ratings before the program began and throughout the intervention.
All participants took part in a structured relaxation program based on meditation. After 20 sessions, 20 of the 22 subjects showed meaningful reductions in anxiety scores, and these improvements were maintained during the follow-up period.
The authors concluded that meditation may help reduce symptoms of panic and anxiety when practiced consistently. Importantly, the benefits appeared to depend on regular, ongoing practice, rather than using meditation only as a tool during moments of acute anxiety.
