{"id":9112,"date":"2013-05-17T04:03:05","date_gmt":"2013-05-17T08:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=9112"},"modified":"2013-05-22T13:06:45","modified_gmt":"2013-05-22T17:06:45","slug":"mind-body-research-update-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=9112","title":{"rendered":"Mind-Body Medicine Research Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Research Update<\/a>]<\/h3>\n

Compiled By Kevin Chen<\/span><\/h3>\n

Advantage of meditation\u00a0over\u00a0exercise\u00a0in reducing cold and flu illness is related to improved function and quality of life.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Influenza Other Respi Viruses<\/em>.\u00a02012 Nov 21. By Obasi CN,\u00a0Brown R,\u00a0Ewers T,\u00a0et al. from Dept of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, WI, USA.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MD-meditate-3\"<\/a>Purpose:\u00a0 To examine whether apparent advantages following training in meditation over exercise\u00a0can be attributed to specific symptoms, functional impairments, or quality-of-life indicators assessed by the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-24).<\/span><\/p>\n

Methods:\u2002Results from the randomized controlled trial “Meditation\u00a0or\u00a0Exercise\u00a0for Preventing Acute Respiratory Illness” showed mean global severity and total days of illness were worse in control (358, 8\u00b79) compared with\u00a0 exercise (248, 5\u00b71) or meditation\u00a0(144, 5\u00b70). Global severity of illness was estimated using area under the curve from daily self-reported severity scores on the WURSS-24. For this project, we estimated within-group WURSS item-level severity and between-group effect sizes (Cohen’s “d” statistic) relative to control. The item-level effect sizes were grouped into (i) symptom and (ii) function and quality of life domains.<\/span><\/p>\n

Results:\u2002 Among the three groups, mediators showed the lowest severity estimates for 21 of 22 WURSS items. Item-level Cohen’s “d” indicated most benefit was evident in WURSS items representing function and quality of life. Compared with\u00a0exercise,\u00a0meditation\u00a0fostered larger reductions in illness severity, although due mostly to improved function and the quality of life domain (d=-0\u00b733, P <0\u00b7001) compared with symptom domain (d=-0\u00b722,\u00a0 P<\u00a0 0\u00b7001).<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusions:\u00a0 The apparent advantage of training in\u00a0meditation\u00a0over\u00a0exercise\u00a0for reducing cold and flu illness is explained more by improved function and quality of life than by a reduction in symptom severity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness\u00a0meditation\u00a0for generalized anxiety disorder: effects on anxiety and stress reactivity<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 J Clin Psychiatry<\/em>.\u00a02013 Mar 13. By Hoge EA,\u00a0Bui E,\u00a0Marques L, et al. from\u00a0<\/span>Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders,\u00a0 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 ehoge@partners.org<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Purpose: Mindfulness\u00a0meditation\u00a0has met increasing interest as a therapeutic strategy for anxiety disorders, but prior studies have been limited by methodological concerns, including a lack of an active comparison group. This is the first randomized, controlled trial comparing the manualized Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program with an active control for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a disorder characterized by chronic worry and physiologic hyperarousal symptoms.\u00a0\"shutterstock_10499413_epsavail\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Method: Ninety-three individuals with DSM-IV-diagnosed GAD were randomly assigned to an 8-week group intervention with MBSR or to an attention control, Stress Management Education (SME), between 2009 and 2011. Anxiety symptoms were measured with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA; primary outcome measure), the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness and -Improvement scales (CGI-S and CGI-I), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Stress reactivity was assessed by comparing anxiety and distress during pretreatment and post treatment administration of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Results: A modified intent-to-treat analysis including participants who completed at least 1 session of MBSR (n = 48) or SME (n = 41) showed that both interventions led to significant (P < .0001) reductions in HAMA scores at endpoint, but did not significantly differ. MBSR, however, was associated with a significantly greater reduction in anxiety as measured by the CGI-S, the CGI-I, and the BAI (all P values < .05). MBSR was also associated with greater reductions than SME in anxiety and distress ratings in response to the TSST stress challenge (P < .05) and a greater increase in positive self-statements (P = .004).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusions: These results suggest that MBSR may have a beneficial effect on anxiety symptoms in GAD and may also improve stress reactivity and coping as measured in a laboratory stress challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An update on mindfulness\u00a0meditation\u00a0as a self-help treatment for anxiety and depression.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 Psychol Res Behav Manag<\/em>.\u00a02012;5:131-41. By Edenfield TM,\u00a0Saeed SA. From Dept of Psychiatric Medicine, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments have increased in popularity. This is especially true for treatments that are related to\u00a0exercise\u00a0and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in the treatment of both mental and physical illness. MBIs, such as Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which are derived from ancient Buddhist and Yoga philosophies, have become popular treatments in contemporary psychotherapy. While there is growing evidence that supports the role of these interventions in relapse prevention, little is known about the role that MBIs play in the treatment of acute symptoms of depression and anxiety. Even less is known about the importance of specific components of MBIs (eg, mindfulness\u00a0meditation\u00a0[MM]) and the overall impact that these interventions have on the experience or expression of psychological distress. Moreover, few studies have rigorously evaluated the dose-response relationship that is required to effect positive symptom change and the mechanisms of change that are responsible for observed improvements. This review will define\u00a0meditation\u00a0and mindfulness, discuss the relationship between stress and health and how MM relates to therapeutically engaging the relaxation response, and review the empirical findings that are related to the efficacy of MM in the treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms. Given the paucity of research that examines the applications of these treatments in clinical populations, the limitations of applying these findings to clinical samples will be mentioned. A brief review of the issues related to the possible mechanisms of change and the dose-response relationship regarding MBIs, particularly MM, will be provided. Finally, limitations of the extant literature and future directions for further exploration of this topic will be offered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"shutterstock_100325\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Physical\u00a0exercise\u00a0intervention in depressive disorders: Meta-analysis and systematic review<\/strong><\/span>. \u00a0Scand J Med Sci Sports.<\/em>\u00a02013 Jan 30. By Josefsson T,\u00a0Lindwall M,\u00a0Archer T. from School of Social and Health Sciences, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Previous meta-analyses investigating the effect of\u00a0exercise\u00a0on depression have included trials where the control condition has been categorized as placebo despite the fact that this particular placebo intervention (e.g.,\u00a0meditation, relaxation) has been recognized as having an antidepressant effect. Because\u00a0meditation\u00a0and mindfulness-based interventions are associated with depression reduction, it is impossible to separate the effect of the physical\u00a0exercise\u00a0from the\u00a0meditation-related parts. The present study determined the efficacy of\u00a0exercise\u00a0in reducing symptoms of depression compared with no treatment, placebo conditions or usual care among clinically defined depressed adults. Of 89 retrieved studies, 15 passed the inclusion criteria of which 13 studies presented sufficient information for calculating effect sizes. The main result showed a significant large overall effect favoring exercise intervention.\u00a0 The effect size was even larger when only trials that had used no treatment or placebo conditions were analyzed. Nevertheless, effect size was reduced to a moderate level when only studies with high methodological quality were included in the analysis.\u00a0Exercise may be recommended for people with mild and moderate depression who are willing, motivated, and physically healthy enough to engage in such a program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Complementary medcine,\u00a0exercise,\u00a0 meditation,\u00a0 diet, and lifestyle modification for anxiety disorders: a review of current evidence<\/strong><\/span>. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med<\/em>.\u00a02012; 2012:809653. By Sarris J,\u00a0Moylan S,\u00a0Camfield DA,\u00a0et al.\u00a0 from Dept of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use of complementary medicines and therapies (CAM) and modification of lifestyle factors such as physical activity,\u00a0exercise, and diet are being increasingly considered as potential therapeutic options for anxiety disorders. The objective of this meta review was to examine evidence across a broad range of CAM and lifestyle interventions in the treatment of anxiety disorders. In early 2012 we conducted a literature search of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library, for key studies, systematic reviews, and meta analyses in the area. Our paper found that in respect to treatment of generalized anxiety or specific disorders, CAM evidence revealed current support for the herbal medicine Kava. One isolated study shows benefit for naturopathic medicine, whereas acupuncture, yoga, and Tai chi have tentative supportive evidence, which is hampered by overall poor methodology. The breadth of evidence does not support homeopathy for treating anxiety. Strong support exists for lifestyle modifications including adoption of moderate\u00a0exercise\u00a0and mindfulness\u00a0 meditation, whereas dietary improvement, avoidance of caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine offer encouraging preliminary data. In conclusion, certain lifestyle modifications and some CAMs may provide a beneficial role in the treatment of anxiety disorders. \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.hindawi.com\/journals\/ecam\/2012\/809653\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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The effects of\u00a0qigong\u00a0on anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being: a systematic review and meta-analysis.\u00a0<\/strong> <\/span>Evid Based Complement Alternat Med<\/em>.\u00a02013;2013:152738. By Wang F,\u00a0Man JK,\u00a0Lee EK,\u00a0et al.\u00a0 From Psychological Department, Guang’an Men Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.<\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction: The effect of\u00a0Qigong\u00a0on psychological well-being is relatively unknown. This study systematically reviewed the effects of\u00a0Qigong\u00a0on anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n

Methods: Using fifteen studies published between 2001 and 2011, a systematic review was carried out and meta-analyses were performed on studies with appropriate homogeneity. The quality of the outcome measures was also assessed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Results: We categorized these studies into three groups based on the type of subjects involved as follows: (1) healthy subjects, (2) subjects with chronic illnesses, and (3) subjects with depression. Based on the heterogeneity assessment of available studies, meta-analyses were conducted in three studies of patients with type II diabetes in the second group, which suggested that\u00a0Qigong\u00a0was effective in reducing depression (ES = -0.29; 95% CI, -0.58-0.00) and anxiety (ES = -0.37; 95% CI, -0.66-0.08), as measured by Symptom Checklist 90, and in improving psychological well-being (ES = -0.58; 95% CI, -0.91-0.25) as measured by Diabetes Specific Quality of Life Scale. Overall, the quality of research methodology of existing studies was poor.\u00a0 Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that Gigong may have positive effects on psychological well-being among patients with chronic illnesses. However the published studies generally had significant methodological limitations. More high-quality studies are needed.\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.hindawi.com\/journals\/ecam\/2013\/152738\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Elderly-woman-jog-in-park\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Tai Chi\u00a0practitioners have better postural control and selective attention in stepping down with and without a concurrent auditory response task<\/strong><\/span>. Eur J Appl Physiol.<\/em>\u00a02013 Mar 14. By Lu X,\u00a0Siu KC,\u00a0Fu SN, et al. from Dept of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,\u00a0 Hong Kong, China.<\/span><\/p>\n

To compare the performance of older experienced\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0practitioners and healthy controls in dual-task versus single-task paradigms, namely stepping down with and without performing an auditory response task, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the Center for East-meets-West in Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Twenty-eight\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0practitioners (73.6\u00a0\u00b1\u00a04.2\u00a0years) and 30 healthy control subjects (72.4\u00a0\u00b1\u00a06.1\u00a0years) were recruited. Participants were asked to step down from a 19-cm-high platform and maintain a single-leg stance for 10\u00a0s with and without a concurrent cognitive task. The cognitive task was an auditory Stroop test in which the participants were required to respond to different tones of voices regardless of their word meanings. Postural stability after stepping down under single- and dual-task paradigms, in terms of excursion of the subject’s center of pressure (COP) and cognitive performance, was measured for comparison between the two groups. Our findings demonstrated significant between-group differences in more outcome measures during dual-task than single-task performance. Thus, the auditory Stroop test showed that\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0practitioners achieved not only significantly less error rate in single-task, but also significantly faster reaction time in dual-task, when compared with healthy controls similar in age and other relevant demographics. Similarly, the stepping-down task showed that\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0practitioners not only displayed significantly less COP sway area in single-task, but also significantly less COP sway path than healthy controls in dual-task. These results showed that\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0practitioners achieved better postural stability after stepping down as well as better performance in auditory response task than healthy controls. The improved performance that was magnified by dual motor-cognitive task performance may point to the benefits of\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0being a mind-and-body exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Associations Between\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0Chung Program, Anxiety, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.<\/strong><\/span> Am J Health Promot<\/em>.\u00a02013 Mar 7. By Chang MY,\u00a0Yeh SC,\u00a0Chu MC,\u00a0et al. from\u00a0 the Graduate Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine With Western Nursing, College of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Purpose: To examine the effects of a\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0Chung (TCC) program, an efficiency approach, on anxiety and cardiovascular risk factors. Design: A quasi-experimental study. Setting. A community in Taipei City, Taiwan. Subjects. One hundred thirty-three adults aged 55 years and older. Intervention. Sixty-four participants (experimental group) attended a 60-minute\u00a0Tai Chi\u00a0exercise three times per week for 12 weeks, whereas 69 participants (control group) maintained their usual daily activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Measures: Anxiety states, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks into the experiment, and 12 weeks into the experiment.\u00a0\u00a0 Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Results: \u00a0Participants showed a greater drop in anxiety levels (\u03b2 = -2.57, p = .001) and DBP (\u03b2 = -7.02, p < .001) at the 12-week follow-up than did the controls. SBP significantly decreased in the 6-week follow-up and 12-week follow-up tests. The participants in the intervention achieved a greater drop in BMI at the 6-week and 12-week follow-up visits than the controls. The interventions demonstrated decreased average WC at the 6-week and 12-week follow-up visits as compared to the controls.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion. The results highlight the long-term benefits of a TCC program in facilitating health promotion by reducing anxiety and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Effect of an office worksite-based\u00a0yoga\u00a0program on heart rate variability: outcomes of a randomized controlled trial.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 BMC Complement Altern Med<\/em>.\u00a02013 Apr 10;13(1):82. By Cheema BS,\u00a0Houridis A,\u00a0Busch L,\u00a0et al.<\/span><\/p>\n

Background:\u00a0 Chronic work-related stress is an independent risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases and associated mortality, particularly when compounded by a sedentary work environment. The purpose of this study was to determine if an office work-site-based hatha\u00a0yoga\u00a0program could improve physiological stress, evaluated via heart rate variability (HRV), and associated health-related outcomes in a cohort of office workers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Methods:\u00a0 Thirty-seven adults employed in university-based office positions were randomized upon the completion of baseline testing to an experimental or control group. The experimental group completed a 10-week\u00a0yoga\u00a0program prescribed three sessions per week during lunch hour (50 min per session). An experienced instructor led the sessions, which emphasized asanas (postures) and vinyasa (exercises). The primary outcome was the high frequency (HF) power component of HRV. Secondary outcomes included additional HRV parameters, musculoskeletal fitness (i.e. push-up, side-bridge, and sit & reach tests) and psychological indices (i.e. state and trait anxiety, quality of life and job satisfaction).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Results:\u00a0 All measures of HRV failed to change in the experimental group versus the control group, except that the experimental group significantly increased LF:HF (p = 0.04) and reduced pNN50 (p = 0.04) versus control, contrary to our hypotheses. Flexibility, evaluated via sit & reach test increased in the experimental group versus the control group (p < 0.001). No other adaptations were noted. Post hoc analysis comparing participants who completed >=70% of\u00a0yoga\u00a0sessions (n = 11) to control (n = 19) yielded the same findings, except that the high adherers also reduced state anxiety (p = 0.02) and RMSSD (p = 0.05), and tended to improve the push-up test (p = 0.07) versus control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusions: A 10-week hatha\u00a0\u00a0 yoga\u00a0 intervention delivered at the office work-site during lunch hour did not improve HF power or other HRV parameters. However, improvements in flexibility, state anxiety and musculoskeletal fitness were noted with high adherence. Future investigations should incorporate strategies to promote adherence, involve more frequent and longer durations of\u00a0yoga\u00a0training, and enroll cohorts who suffer from higher levels of work-related stress. \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.biomedcentral.com\/1472-6882\/13\/82\/abstract<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>

Dr. Kevin Chen<\/p><\/div>\n

Kevin W Chen,\u00a0Ph.D.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0is an associate professor at the Center for Integrative\u00a0Medicine, University of Maryland. \u00a0Dr. Chen was educated in the universities of both China and the United States, and has\u00a0years of experience and training in blending eastern and western perspectives, and in\u00a0the practice of life-nurturing methods. As a long-time practitioner of Qigong Yang Sheng, he is one of the few scientists in the U.S. to have both hands-on knowledge of mind-body practice, and an active research career in mind-body medicine, which is funded through grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and various foundations.\u00a0 Dr. Chen devotes his career and life to the practice of Yang Sheng, and promotion of self-healing and mind-body-spirit integration through the non-profit organization, World Institute for Self Healing (WISH) (http:\/\/www.wishus.org<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/address>\n

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