Breathing Meditation by Medical Students at Khon Kaen University: Effect on Psychiatric Symptoms, Memory, Intelligence and Academic Acheivement
Suchat Paholpak MD*, Nawanant Piyavhatkul MD*, Poonsri Rangseekajee MD*, Thawatchai Krisanaprakornkit MD*, Suwanna Arunpongpaisal MD*, Niramol Pajanasoontorn MD*, Surapol Virasiri MD*, Jintana Singkornard MSc*, Somchit Rongbudsri MEd*, Chonnikarn Udomsri BSc*, Chanatiporn Chonprai BSc*, Peerada Unprai MSc*
Affiliation : * Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Objective : To examine the short-term effects on fifth-year medical students of a 4-week, breathing meditation-based, stress
reduction intervention on psychiatric symptoms, memory function, intelligence, and academic achievement.
Materials and Method: Using a randomized control trial, the meditation group practiced every 8.00 to 8.20 a.m. before
beginning daily learning schedule. Meditation emphasized mindful awareness of the breath during inhaling and exhaling. The
control group went about their normal activities in the other room. The psychiatric symptoms were measured using the
Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90), the memory used the Wechsler Memory Scale-I (WMS-I), the intelligence used the Raven’s
Advanced Progressive Matrices (APM), and the academic achievement used psychiatry course MCQ examination score.
Analysis was done using Ancova statistic.
Results : Fifty-eight volunteer medical students during their psychiatry rotation between June 2008 and May 2009, were
randomized into either in the meditation (n = 30) or the control (non-meditation) (n = 28) group. There was no significant
difference between the groups in their respective SCL-90, WMS-I, APM, and psychiatry course MCQ examination score.
Conclusion : Among normal, intelligent, mentally healthy persons, short-term breathing meditation practice will not likely
change psychiatric symptoms, memory function, intellectual performance, and academic achievement.
Keywords : Studying medicine, Meditation-based stress reduction, Psychiatric symptoms, Memory function, Intelligence, Academic achievement
