A Pilot Testing of the Effect of Guided Meditation on Anxiety, Depression and Sleep Quality among COVID-19 Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Facility

Hospitalization of COVID- 19 patients may lead to the development of varied levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. The present study was conceptualized to investigate the effect of guided meditation on anxiety, depression, and sleep quality among the hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a tertiary care facility.

Materials and Methods: A total of 60 COVID-19 patients were conveniently enrolled and randomized to experimental (30) and control arms (30) using a computer-generated random table and opaque sealed envelope technique in a selected COVID unit of a tertiary care facility. The subjects were enrolled in accordance to the inclusion criteria.

Intervention: The guided meditation was an audio recording of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of 20 minutes duration. The intervention was provided twice a day to the experimental group for consecutive 5 days. A close watch was kept on the vital signs of the subjects during the intervention using a pulse oximeter. At the same time, the control group continued to receive the standard routine care.

Results: There was a significant difference observed in the post-test anxiety and depression scores in the experiment and control groups (4.83±3.68 vs. 12.37±3.9 p=0.001 and 7.90±2.41 vs.12.67±2.65 p=0.001). A significant difference was also observed in the global sleep quality index (median (IQR)) in the experimental and control groups (11(9-14) vs. 15(10.75-17) p= 0.01).

Conclusion: The guided meditation was effective in improving the global sleep quality index and alleviating the anxiety and depression to great extent as compared to the standard routine care provided to COVID-19 patients admitted in a tertiary care facility.