Evaluation of Meditation as a Treatment for GAD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2176Keywords:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Meditation, Efficacy, Mental HealthAbstract
Recently, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) has become a more prevalent mental health issue across the population. It is on the rise globally and is particularly affecting higher-income countries, such as the United States. Furthermore, evidence suggests there is a significant number of people suffering from undiagnosed GAD, in addition to the diagnosed count. Most of the widely used methods like medication and professional therapy, while decently effective, can be expensive and inaccessible to many people. This literature review explores the effectiveness of Buddhist Vipassana meditation in managing GAD compared to conventional treatments. While meditation shows promise in enhancing emotional regulation and stress resilience as a free, accessible, and versatile practice, current evidence suggests it is most effective as a complementary therapy. Further research is needed to validate its efficacy as a standalone treatment.
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