A 2022 randomized controlled trial compared mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to escitalopram, commonly known as Lexapro, in treating anxiety disorders. The study enrolled 276 participants and ran for 8 weeks. The result: MBSR was statistically non-inferior to the medication.
This does not mean meditation replaces medication for everyone. But it does mean that in a rigorous clinical setting, the two approaches produced comparable outcomes. Participants in the MBSR group followed a structured program of meditation, body scanning, and gentle movement.
For practitioners, the takeaway is that mindfulness is not a soft alternative. It performed on par with a widely prescribed pharmaceutical in a controlled trial. The study adds weight to the idea that consistent contemplative practice can produce clinically meaningful changes in anxiety.
Source: Yoga Research: Mental Health & Trauma on ashtanga.tech. Original research.