Understanding how mindfulness helps people with anxiety and if it affects men and women differently

Elucidating Neural Mechanisms and Sex Differences in Response to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11076334

This study is looking at how practicing mindfulness can help people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder by seeing how it affects their brain and emotions, and it will also check if men and women respond differently to these mindfulness techniques.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11076334 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) can help individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) by exploring the brain mechanisms involved. It aims to understand how MBSR improves emotional regulation and attention, particularly focusing on the brain regions responsible for fear and emotion management. The study will also examine whether there are differences in how men and women respond to MBSR, providing insights into personalized treatment approaches. Participants will undergo neuroimaging to observe changes in brain activity associated with mindfulness practices.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder who are interested in mindfulness practices.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have Generalized Anxiety Disorder or those who are not interested in mindfulness techniques may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective, tailored treatments for anxiety that enhance emotional regulation and reduce symptoms.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that mindfulness techniques can be effective for anxiety, but this study aims to explore new neural mechanisms, making it a novel approach.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.