Investigators conducted an 8-week study to examine the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques on medical and premedical students using a controlled, statistical experimental design. The experimental group doing the meditation showed (1) a reduction in self-reported anxiety and (2) distress and depression, as well as (3) an increase score on measures of empathy and (4) an increase in spiritual experiences. The results were repeated when the experiment was conducted on a wait-listed control group. (Zach Rowinski 2005-03-04)