Mindfulness Training and Physical Health: Mechanisms and Outcomes.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to synthesize conceptual and empirical relationships between mindfulness interventions and physical health outcomes.
Results Summary
Mindfulness interventions improved pain management in chronic pain populations and showed preliminary evidence for improving stress-related disease outcomes (e.g., clinical colds, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, PTSD, diabetes, HIV). A stress-buffering framework and supporting biobehavioral/neuroimaging studies suggest plausible mechanistic pathways.
Population
Chronic pain populations and patients with stress-related diseases (e.g., psoriasis, IBS, PTSD, diabetes, HIV).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness interventions | increase | pain management outcomes | chronic pain populations | - | can improve | #1 |
mindfulness interventions | increase | specific stress-related disease outcomes | some patient populations (i.e., clinical colds, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes, HIV) | - | improving | #2 |
OBJECTIVE: There has been substantial research and public interest in mindfulness interventions, biological pathways, and health for the past two decades. This article reviews recent developments in understanding relationships between mindfulness interventions and physical health. METHODS: A selective review was conducted with the goal of synthesizing conceptual and empirical relationships between mindfulness interventions and physical health outcomes. RESULTS: Initial randomized controlled trials in this area suggest that mindfulness interventions can improve pain management outcomes among chronic pain populations, and there is preliminary evidence for mindfulness interventions improving specific stress-related disease outcomes in some patient populations (i.e., clinical colds, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes, HIV). We offer a stress-buffering framework for the observed beneficial effects of mindfulness interventions and summarize supporting biobehavioral and neuroimaging studies that provide plausible mechanistic pathways linking mindfulness interventions with positive physical health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude with new opportunities for research and clinical implementations to consider in the next two decades.