Mindfulness Therapy Trial for Long COVID Begins

Columbia University has launched a clinical trial to test whether structured mindfulness practices can ease symptoms of Long COVID. The study, called LONG-CALM (Long-COVID-19 Alleviation Through Learning Mindfulness), is recruiting participants with lingering post-COVID symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive problems, and reduced quality of life.

The randomized, parallel trial will compare outcomes between patients who receive mindfulness-based therapy and those in a control group. Researchers will track changes using patient-reported measures of symptom burden, quality of life, and mental health.

This trial builds on earlier work that explored the use of mindfulness for Long COVID. A small 2025 study found that a six-week mindfulness-based group therapy did not significantly improve depression or anxiety symptoms, though there was a slight downward trend in anxiety scores. Broader reviews suggest meditation can sometimes reduce stress and alter immune and inflammatory markers, but results have been inconsistent, especially in populations with chronic disease.

The trial commenced in May 2024 and is anticipated to conclude by late 2027.

LONG-CALM findings could provide non-drug strategies for managing Long COVID, which has limited treatment options.

Note: Many researchers and patient advocates have expressed concern that while mindfulness may help some individuals cope with stress, it does not address the suspected biological drivers of Long COVID, such as immune dysregulation, viral persistence, or reactivated infections. Critics warn that focusing on behavioral approaches could risk diverting funding away from biomedical studies needed to uncover root causes.

Citations

Columbia University. (2025, August 24). Long-Covid-19 alleviation through learning mindfulness (LONG-CALM) [Clinical trial registration]. ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07140094

Welbel, R., Rutha, E., Ording, J., Wang, D., & Hirschtick, J. (2025). The effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on depression and anxiety in the long-COVID population. Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews, 12(3), 134–139. https://doi.org/10.17294/2330-0698.2128

Porter, N. S., & Jason, L. A. (2022). Mindfulness meditation interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral gene expression and neuroimmune functioning. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 18, 2599–2626. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S379653