Mindfulness Meditation for Chronic Insomnia: Randomized Controlled Trial Results
How Effective Is Mindfulness Meditation for Treating Chronic Insomnia?
Mindfulness meditation significantly improves sleep quality and reduces insomnia severity in adults with chronic insomnia, this rigorous randomized controlled trial demonstrates. Participants who completed an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program showed substantial improvements in sleep quality scores, reduced time to fall asleep, and decreased nighttime awakenings compared to those receiving sleep hygiene education alone. Additionally, the mindfulness group showed significant reductions in inflammatory markers including IL-6 and TNF-α, suggesting that meditation’s sleep benefits may work through anti-inflammatory pathways. The improvements were sustained at 6-month follow-up, indicating lasting benefits from this behavioral intervention for chronic insomnia.