Adams, Zachary W.Sieverdes, John C.Brunner-Jackson, BrendaMueller, MartinaChandler, JessicaDiaz, VanessaPatel, SachinSox, Luke R.Wilder, SpencerTreiber, Frank A.2019-12-202019-12-202018-09Adams, Z. W., Sieverdes, J. C., Brunner-Jackson, B., Mueller, M., Chandler, J., Diaz, V., … Treiber, F. A. (2018). Meditation smartphone application effects on prehypertensive adults' blood pressure: Dose-response feasibility trial. Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 37(9), 850–860. doi:10.1037/hea0000584https://hdl.handle.net/1805/21542OBJECTIVE: Essential hypertension (EH) is the most common chronic disease in the United States and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle interventions (e.g., diet, exercise, stress management) to reduce blood pressure (BP) are often complex with varying effectiveness. Breathing awareness meditation (BAM) is a stress management strategy with encouraging effects on BP, though widespread dissemination is hampered by the lack of an easy-to-use methodology to train and monitor BAM practices. A smartphone application (Tension Tamer [TT]) that implements BAM and tracks adherence has shown promise in addressing these gaps. This 6-month dose-response feasibility trial evaluated effects of the app on BP to further optimize BAM user guidelines. METHODS: Sixty-four adults with prehypertension were randomized to complete TT-guided BAM sessions for 5-, 10-, or 15-min intervals twice daily over 6 months. Continuous heart rate readings derived from the phone's video camera via reflective photoplethysmography were used as feedback and as an index of time-stamped adherence. Outcomes (resting BP, HR) were collected at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 6-months. RESULTS: Mixed modeling results showed a significant time effect for systolic BP (SBP) with a dose-response effect at Months 3 and 6. Adherence declined over time and was lowest in the 15-min dose condition, though SBP reductions were maintained. Generally, adherence was negatively associated with dose as the study progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Smartphone-implemented BAM appears to reduce SBP and can be a low-cost method to reach large populations. (PsycINFO Database Recorden-USPublisher PolicyEssential hypertensionBlood pressureBreathing meditationMobile healthSmartphone applicationArticle