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Doctor of Biomedical Sciences Studies Mindfulness Training to Reduce Stress in Anesthesiology Residents through Alterations in Dopamine and NF-κB Pathways
Doctor of Biomedical Sciences Studies Mindfulness Training to Reduce Stress in Anesthesiology Residents through Alterations in Dopamine and NF-κB Pathways
Held in the Dr. A.A. Made Djelantik Meeting Room, Fourth Floor, Faculty of Medicine Building, Jl. PB Sudirman, Denpasar, Bali, the Doctor of Biomedical Sciences Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, held an open doctoral promotion defense with candidate Dr. Ida Bagus Krisna Jaya Sutawan, M.Kes., Sp.An-TI., Subsp.NA(K)., with the dissertation title "The Effect of Mindfulness Meditation-Based Mindfulness Training (OPM) on Dopamine D1 Receptor mRNA Expression, NF-κB Transcription Factor mRNA Expression, and Stress Scores in Anesthesiology Residents at Ngoerah Hospital." (April 14, 2026)
Occupational stress is difficult to avoid and can lead to long-term mental exhaustion. Mindfulness training can reduce stress levels, but few studies have examined its biomolecular mechanisms. This prompted researchers to develop Mindfulness Training (OPM) based on mindfulness meditation to explore the biomolecular mechanisms in reducing stress levels by measuring the expression of dopamine D1 receptor mRNA and nuclear factor kappa-activated B cell (NF-κB) transcription factor mRNA.
This was a purely experimental, prospective, analytical study with a randomized pre-posttest control-group design. A total of 32 anesthesiology residents with moderate stress levels were randomized into the OPM and control groups. The OPM group received mindfulness meditation-based training for 8 weeks. Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10), Dopamine D1 mRNA expression, and NF-κB transcription factor mRNA expression were assessed before and after treatment. Statistical analyses included bivariate comparative analysis and multivariate path analysis.
The results showed a significant difference in the increase in mean±SD dopamine D1 receptor mRNA expression between the OPM and control groups (3.64±2.1 [95% CI: 2.50–4.78] versus 0.33±1.37 [95% CI: –0.398–1.06] fg/µl; p< 0.001). The decrease in mRNA expression of the transcription factor NFκB and stress values were also significantly different (–5.24±1.82 [95% CI: –6.20 – –4.27] fg/µl; median 8 [IQR 4]) compared to the control (–0.88±2.89 [95% CI: –2.42–0.659] fg/µl; median 1.5 [IQR 2]; p< 0.001). Pathway analysis showed that increased dopamine D1 mRNA expression reduced stress levels, both directly and indirectly through a decrease in mRNA expression of the transcription factor NFκB.
Mindfulness training based on mindfulness meditation improves attention focus through a mechanism that increases dopamine D1 receptor mRNA expression, which in turn reduces stress levels both directly and indirectly, namely by reducing mRNA expression of the transcription factor NF-κB.
This examination was led by the Vice Dean for General Affairs and Finance, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Muliarta, S.Ked., M.Kes., with the following examiners:
1. Prof. Dr. dr. Tjokorda Gde Agung Senapathi, Sp.An-TI, Subsp.An.R.(K) (Promoter)
2. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Jawi, M.Kes (Co-Promoter I)
3. Dr. dr. I Made Gede Widnyana, M.Kes., Sp.An-TI., Subsp.An.R(K) (Co-Promoter II)
4. Prof. Dr. Dr. I Putu Gede Adiatmika, M. Kes
5. Prof. Dr. Dr. Tjokorda Gde Bagus Mahadewa, M.Kes., Sp.BS (K)Spinal., FICS.FINSS
6. Prof. Dr. Dr. I Wayan Putu Sutirta Yasa, M.Si
7. Prof. Dr. Dr. Komang Januartha Putra Pinatih, M.Kes
8. Prof. Dr. Dr. I Wayan Niryana, M.Kes., Sp.BS(K)
9.Dr. Drs. Ida Bagus Rai Putra, M.Hum
10.Dr. Dr. I Putu Pramana Suarjaya, Sp.An., M.Kes., KMN, KNA, FIPM
By academic invitation:
1.Dr. Dr. Putu Agus Surya Panji, Sp.An-TI., Subsp.T.I.(K)
2.Dr. Dr. I Putu Belly Sutrisna, M.Biomed., Sp.KJ., M.Kom
3. Dr. dr. I Gusti Agung Gede Utara Hartawan, Sp.An-TI., MARS., SH
4. Dr. dr. I Gusti Ngurah Mahaalit Aribawa, Sp.An-TI., Subsp.An.R.(K), FIP
5. Dr. dr. I Gde Sastra Winata, M.Biomed., Sp.OG., Subsp.Onk
During this exam, Dr. dr. Ida Bagus Krisna Jaya Sutawan, M.Kes., Sp.An-TI., Subsp.NA(K)., was declared the 489th Doctoral Graduate of the Biomedical Sciences Doctoral Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, with Cum Laude honors.
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