---

People with generalized anxiety disorder are agonized by most aspects of daily life. Zen meditation is an ancient method of stilling and settling the mind. Could Zen meditation, then, be an effective therapeutic tool for those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder? This is the first-hand clinical experience of mental-health care providers introducing Zen meditation to anxiety-disorder sufferers. Comprehensive examinations and analyses of the participants experiences are conducted through the use of focus groups, questionnaires, and interviews. An interpretive phenomenological perspective and rigorous systematic analysis are utilized to present a unique picture of Zen meditation as a means for helping anxiety sufferers lead happier and less anxious lives.

---

ChuehFen Lu worked for three years as a psychiatric nurse in Taipei, Taiwan. She earned her master s degree from National Taiwan University and her Ph.D. in nursing school from Glasgow University, Scotland. She is an Associate Professor at the Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, where she has served as a lecturer for over 14 years.

Lorraine N Smith BscN, MEd, PhD.Graduate of the Universities of Ottawa, Canada and Manchester, UK. Appointed Professor of Nursing, University of Glasgow in 1990 and was Head of School 1990-2001. Author of more than 100 papers and has held more than Pds. 3.5 million in research grants. Research in the areas of cardiovascular care, in particular stroke. Chair of Scottish Government SIGN Guidelines 118 and 119. Chair of the Workgroup of European Nurse Researchers 1999-2008.

---