Mind-body therapy for treating fibromyalgia: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia is a chronic and disabling condition that presents management challenges for both patients and healthcare providers. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize current evidence on the effectiveness and safety of mind-body therapies in the treatment and/or management of fibromyalgia. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, and CINAHL databases from their inception to December 2023. Eligible articles included adults diagnosed with fibromyalgia participating in a mind-body therapy intervention and were published from the beginning of 2012 onwards. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists. RESULTS: Of 3866 records screened, 27 studies (30 articles) met our inclusion criteria, in which 22 were randomized controlled trials and 5 were quasi-experimental studies. Mind-body therapies included guided imagery (n = 5), mindfulness-based stress reduction (n = 5), qi gong (n = 5), tai chi (n = 5), biofeedback (n = 3), yoga (n = 2), mindfulness awareness training (n = 1), and progressive muscle relaxation (n = 1). With the exception of mindfulness-based stress reduction, all therapies had at least one study showing significant improvements in pain at the end of treatment. Multiple studies on guided imagery, qi gong, and tai chi observed significant improvements in pain, fatigue, multidimensional function, and sleep. Approximately one-third of the studies reported on adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that mind-body therapies are potentially beneficial for adults with fibromyalgia. Further research is necessary to determine if the positive effects observed post-intervention are sustained. STUDY REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework (https://osf.io) (September 12, 2023; https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/6w7ac).

Changes in Interoception in Mind-body Therapies for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging literature has demonstrated deficits in interoception (i.e., the perception of physical sensations from inside the body) in individuals with chronic pain conditions. Mind-body therapies (MBTs) are purported to improve chronic pain in part through improving or restoring interoceptive abilities. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine changes in interoception in MBTs for chronic pain conditions. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses was conducted from database inception to February 2023. English language intervention studies evaluating the effect of MBTs on interoception in adults with chronic pain conditions were examined. Changes in pain (severity and interference) following treatment were examined as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies (10 unique samples) were identified. Meta-analytic results reveal significant improvements in total interoceptive awareness (Becker's d = 1.168, p < .01) as well as improvements in seven of eight subdomains of interoceptive awareness (ds = 0.28 to 0.81). MBTs were also associated with reductions in both pain intensity (d = -1.46, p = .01) and pain interference (d = -1.07, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary research suggests that MBTs demonstrate improvements in interoceptive awareness and reduce pain in adults with chronic pain. Literature on changes in other domains of interoception, such as interoceptive accuracy, following MBTs is severely lacking. Although more rigorous studies are needed to corroborate results, the present findings lay an important foundation for future research to examine interoception as a possible underlying mechanism of MBTs to improve pain outcomes.

Efficacy of mind-body therapies for sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of different mind-body therapies (MBTs) for sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer. METHODS: Randomised controlled trials that included patients (aged ≥18 years) with early stage cancer who underwent MBTs (mindfulness, hypnosis, relaxation, yoga, and qigong) were searched in the CINAHL via the EBSCO Host, Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus databases, from the date of database inception to October 2022. The outcomes were subjective sleep disturbance and objective sleep efficiency. Network meta-analysis (NMA) and comparative effects ranking were performed using STATA (v14.0; STATACorp, College Station, TX, USA). RESULTS: Forty-seven studies investigating five MBTs were included in the NMA. For cancer patients receiving active treatment, mindfulness demonstrated the largest effect size in reducing subjective sleep disturbance (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.85; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.20-1.50; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation assessment: moderate), and had the highest cumulative probability compared to usual care or waitlist. For cancer patients who had completed active treatment, qigong demonstrated the largest effect size in reducing subjective sleep disturbance (SMD: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.35-1.63; GRADE: low), followed by hypnosis (SMD: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.32-1.42; GRADE: moderate), and mindfulness (SMD: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.24-0.59; GRADE: moderate). Qigong also demonstrated the largest effect size in improving objective sleep efficiency (weighted mean differences: 10.76; 95% CI: 2.01-19.50; GRADE: low); however, the effect of qigong was tested in only one study in this NMA. Among the eight different treatment conditions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) showed the highest cumulative probability (surface under the cumulative ranking curve: 96.3%) in reducing subjective sleep disturbance and the second highest cumulative probability (SUCRA: 83.3%) in improving objective sleep efficiency. CONCLUSION: There is no evidence supporting the use of MBTs to replace or be comparable to CBT. Mindfulness can be recommended as an optional treatment for reducing sleep disturbance in patients with early-stage cancer. Some support was observed for qigong and hypnosis in reducing sleep disturbances in patients with early-stage cancer who had completed active treatment. More rigorous trials are warranted to confirm whether different forms of MBTs have different effects on sleep in patients with cancer.

Mind-body (hypnotherapy) treatment of women with urgency urinary incontinence: changes in brain attentional networks.

BACKGROUND: Prior study of patients with urgency urinary incontinence by functional magnetic resonance imaging showed altered function in areas of the brain associated with interoception and salience and with attention. Our randomized controlled trial of hypnotherapy for urgency urinary incontinence demonstrated marked improvement in urgency urinary incontinence symptoms at 2 months. A subsample of these women with urgency urinary incontinence underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine if hypnotherapy treatment of urgency urinary incontinence compared with pharmacotherapy was associated with altered brain activation or resting connectivity on functional magnetic resonance imaging. STUDY DESIGN: A subsample of women participating in a randomized controlled trial comparing hypnotherapy vs pharmacotherapy for treatment of urgency urinary incontinence was evaluated with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Scans were obtained pretreatment and 8 to 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Brain activation during bladder filling and resting functional connectivity with an empty and partially filled bladder were assessed. Brain regions of interest were derived from those previously showing differences between healthy controls and participants with untreated urgency urinary incontinence in our prior work and included regions in the interoceptive and salience, ventral attentional, and dorsal attentional networks. RESULTS: After treatment, participants in both groups demonstrated marked improvement in incontinence episodes (P<.001). Bladder-filling task functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the combined groups (n=64, 30 hypnotherapy, 34 pharmacotherapy) demonstrated decreased activation of the left temporoparietal junction, a component of the ventral attentional network (P<.01) compared with baseline. Resting functional connectivity differed only with the bladder partially filled (n=54). Compared with pharmacotherapy, hypnotherapy participants manifested increased functional connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, a component of the dorsal attentional network (P<.001). CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of urgency urinary incontinence with both pharmacotherapy and hypnotherapy was associated with decreased activation of the ventral (bottom-up) attentional network during bladder filling. This may be attributable to decreased afferent stimuli arising from the bladder in the pharmacotherapy group. In contrast, decreased ventral attentional network activation associated with hypnotherapy may be mediated by the counterbalancing effects of the dorsal (top-down) attentional network.

Immunological and Psychological Efficacy of Meditation/Yoga Intervention Among People Living With HIV (PLWH): A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses of 19 Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: An expanding number of mind-body therapies are being used to reduce the psychological burden of peoples living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the effects on the immune system and mental health varied among studies. PURPOSE: This meta-analysis was conducted to summarize the randomized controlled trials to draw comprehensive conclusions regarding the psycho-immunological efficacy. METHODS: Random-effects models were used to assess the outcome of interest. Egger's tests were used to identify publication bias. Subgroup and meta-regression were used to explore potential moderators. This review was registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42019148118). RESULTS: Nineteen randomized controlled trials with a total sample size of 1,300 were included in this meta-analysis. Regarding immune system outcome, mind-body therapy significantly improved CD4 T-cell counts (Cohen's d = 0.214, p = .027) and maintained (0.427, p = .049). In addition, baseline CD4 T-cell counts and years since HIV diagnosis significantly moderated the efficacy of mind-body practices on CD4 improvement (all ps < .001). Regarding mental health outcome, mind-body therapy significantly reduced stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms (0.422, p < .001; 0.506, p < .001, and 0.709, p < .001, respectively) while improving quality of life (0.67, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Meditation/yoga intervention could result in potential benefits with regard to improved CD4 T-cell counts immediately after the intervention and at long-term follow-up, while also improving their mental health. The cost-effective meditation/yoga intervention should be integrated into routine care for people living with HIV, especially for those with lower CD4 baseline and fewer years since diagnosis.

Pilot randomized controlled trial of a hypnosis intervention for women with bladder pain syndrome.

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized controlled trial of a hypnosis intervention for the treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) in women. METHODS: We conducted a parallel arm, non-blinded, pilot randomized controlled trial of standardized hypnosis sessions including a hypnosis web tool versus usual care in adult women with BPS/IC. Pilot study outcomes included feasibility domains: process, resources and management, safety, and acceptability. Clinical outcomes of lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life were measured using validated questionnaires at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention. RESULTS: We randomized 29 out of 30 (96.7%) eligible women. In the hypnosis group, 12 of 15 (80.0%) subjects completed the 4-week intervention and follow up, and 13 of 14 (92.9%) in the usual care group. In the hypnosis group, adherence to the standardized sessions was 80% and participants used the web-based tool for an average of 5.6 ± 2.7 times per week. Scores for emotional distress, relaxation, pain severity and expected bladder symptoms significantly improved during the first two of three planned hypnosis sessions (all p < 0.05). Improvement in quality of life scores was greater in the hypnosis group than the usual care group (-2.6 ± 2.3 vs. -0.9 ± 1.1, p = 0.04). There were no significant between-group differences in urinary symptoms or bladder pain. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: A hypnosis intervention for the treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is feasible, acceptable, safe, and may improve quality of life.

Impact of mind-body treatment interventions on quality of life in neurofibromatosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Individuals with neurofibromatosis (NF) experience poorer quality of life (QoL), in part contributed by the clinical manifestations of NF, such as functional disability, chronic pain, and altered physical appearance. Mind-body therapies (MBTs) tailored to NF have been developed, and have demonstrated promising potential to improve QoL in this population. We sought to systematically review current evidence on the effectiveness of MBTs in addressing QoL deficits in NF patients. Databases were reviewed between the date of inception and June 2020, using search terms: neurofibromatosis, schwannomatosis, psychotherapy, mind-body, mindfulness, meditation, resiliency, and behavioral therapy. Quality appraisal was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools and National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tools. We conducted a meta-analysis of mean differences and reported aggregate effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals. A total of 10 articles, including randomized-controlled trials and pre-post studies, were identified. Meta-analytic results of randomized-controlled trial data from six citations demonstrated MBTs were associated with improved physical (MD = 13.63, 95%CI 6.95-20.30, P < .0001, I2 = 24%), psychological (MD = 14.11, 95%CI 6.44-21.78, P = .0003, I2 = 38%), social (MD = 9.63, 95%CI 2.93-16.33, P = .005, I2 = 0%), and environmental QoL (MD = 14.14, 95%CI 8.28-20.00, P < .00001. I2 = 0%) in NF patients. These associations were maintained at 6-months follow-up for physical, psychological, and environmental QoL (P < .05). Our findings suggest that NF-adapted MBT strategies are associated with improving QoL in diverse NF populations, including NF2 patients experiencing deafness and youth NF patients. Providers and caregivers for NF should be aware of the potential benefits of MBT in chronic NF management.

Hypnotherapy or medications: a randomized noninferiority trial in urgency urinary incontinent women.

BACKGROUND: Urgency urinary incontinence afflicts many adults, and most commonly affects women. Medications, a standard treatment, may be poorly tolerated, with poor adherence. This warrants investigation of alternative interventions. Mind-body therapies such as hypnotherapy may offer additional treatment options for individuals with urgency urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hypnotherapy's efficacy compared to medications in treating women with urgency urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This investigator-masked, noninferiority trial compared hypnotherapy to medications at an academic center in the southwestern United States, and randomized women with non-neurogenic urgency urinary incontinence to weekly hypnotherapy sessions for 2 months (and continued self-hypnosis thereafter) or to medication and weekly counseling for 2 months (and medication alone thereafter). The primary outcome was the between-group comparison of percent change in urgency incontinence on a 3-day bladder diary at 2 months. Important secondary outcomes were between-group comparisons of percent change in urgency incontinence at 6 and 12 months. Outcomes were analyzed based on noninferiority margins of 5% for between group differences (P < 0.025) (that is, for between group difference in percentage change in urgency incontinence, if the lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was greater than -5%, noninferiority would be proved). RESULTS: A total of 152 women were randomized to treatment between April 2013 and October 2016. Of these women, 142 (70 hypnotherapy, 72 medications) had 3-day diary information at 2 months and were included in the primary outcome analysis. Secondary outcomes were analyzed for women with diary data at the 6-month and then 12-month time points (138 women [67 hypnotherapy, 71 medications] at 6 months, 140 women [69 hypnotherapy, 71 medications] at 12 months. There were no differences between groups' urgency incontinence episodes at baseline: median (quartile 1, quartile 3) for hypnotherapy was 8 (4, 14) and medication was 7 (4, 11) (P = .165). For the primary outcome, although both interventions showed improvement, hypnotherapy did not prove noninferior to medication at 2 months. Hypnotherapy's median percent improvement was 73.0% (95% confidence interval, 60.0-88˖9%), whereas medication's improvement was 88.6% (95% confidence interval, 78.6-100.0%). The median difference in percent change between groups was 0% (95% confidence interval, -16.7% to 0.0%); because the lower margin of the confidence interval did not meet the predetermined noninferiority margin of greater than -5%, hypnotherapy did not prove noninferior to medication. In contrast, hypnotherapy was noninferior to medication for the secondary outcomes at 6 months (hypnotherapy, 85.7% improvement, 95% confidence interval, 75.0-100%; medications, 83.3% improvement, 95% confidence interval, 64.7-100%; median difference in percent change between groups of 0%, 95% confidence interval, 0.0-6.7%) and 12 months (hypnotherapy, 85.7% improvement, 95% confidence interval, 66.7-94.4%; medications, 80% improvement, 95% confidence interval, 54.5-100%; median difference in percent change between groups of 0%, 95% confidence interval, -4.2% to -9.5%). CONCLUSION: Both hypnotherapy and medications were associated with substantially improved urgency urinary incontinence at all follow-up. The study did not prove the noninferiority of hypnotherapy compared to medications at 2 months, the study's primary outcome. Hypnotherapy proved noninferior to medications at longer-term follow-up of 6 and 12 months. Hypnotherapy is a promising, alternative treatment for women with UUI.

Efficacy of mind-body therapies and exercise-based interventions on menopausal-related outcomes among Asian perimenopause women: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and synthesis without a meta-analysis.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies on quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression among Asian perimenopausal women. DESIGN: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM). DATA SOURCES: Six electronic databases were systematically searched: PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and ProQuest. REVIEW METHODS: The point of inception of each database to 15 November 2018 were systematically searched. A meta-analysis and SWiM were used to present the results. Review Manager 5.3 and The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool were used for meta-analyses and assessing of risk of bias, respectively. RESULTS: In all, 23 studies were reviewed. Significant effects in exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies were found for quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression but not for hot flashes. Limitations of this review include insufficient blinding of participants and/or researchers found in most of the included studies and high levels of heterogeneity in the meta-analyses. Evidence found in this review is to be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals can consider exercise-based interventions or mind-body therapies to manage menopausal symptoms. Future trials of good quality can examine the cost-effectiveness and optimal intervention duration. Intervention effects on specific menopausal symptoms such as sleeplessness in Asia can be examined in future. IMPACT: Exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies suggest effectiveness on quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression among Asian perimenopausal women. Exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies improve quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and depression but not hot flashes. Long-term exercise-based interventions is effective in managing depression. Due to varied limitations in the review and included studies, firm conclusions cannot be reached. Healthcare professionals in Asia can consider implementing exercise-based interventions and mind-body therapies for symptomatic perimenopausal Asian women.

Strategies of complementary and integrative therapies in cancer-related pain-attaining exhaustive cancer pain management.

PURPOSE: Complementary integrative therapies (CITs) correspond to growing demand in patients with cancer-related pain. This demand needs to be considered alongside pharmaceutical and/or interventional therapies. CITs can be used to cover certain specific pain-related characteristics. The objective of this review is to present the options for CITs that could be used within dynamic, multidisciplinary, and personalized management, leading to an integrative oncology approach. METHODS: Critical reflection based on literature analysis and clinical practice. RESULTS: Most CITs only showed trends in efficacy as cancer pain was mainly a secondary endpoint, or populations were restricted. Physical therapy has demonstrated efficacy in motion and pain, in some specific cancers (head and neck or breast cancers) or in treatments sequelae (lymphedema). In cancer survivors, higher levels of physical activity decrease pain intensity. Due to the multimorphism of cancer pain, certain mind-body therapies acting on anxiety, stress, depression, or mood disturbances (such as massage, acupuncture, healing touch, hypnosis, and music therapy) are efficient on cancer pain. Other mind-body therapies have shown trends in reducing the severity of cancer pain and improving other parameters, and they include education (with coping skills training), yoga, tai chi/qigong, guided imagery, virtual reality, and cognitive-behavioral therapy alone or combined. The outcome sustainability of most CITs is still questioned. CONCLUSIONS: High-quality clinical trials should be conducted with CITs, as their efficacy on pain is mainly based on efficacy trends in pain severity, professional judgment, and patient preferences. Finally, the implementation of CITs requires an interdisciplinary team approach to offer optimal, personalized, cancer pain management.

Yoga and immune system functioning: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice that is increasingly recognized to have health benefits in a variety of clinical and non-clinical conditions. This systematic review summarizes the findings of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of yoga on immune system functioning which is imperative to justify its application in the clinic. Fifteen RCTs were eligible for the review. Even though the existing evidence is not entirely consistent, a general pattern emerged suggesting that yoga can downregulate pro-inflammatory markers. In particular, the qualitative evaluation of RCTs revealed decreases in IL-1beta, as well as indications for reductions in IL-6 and TNF-alpha. These results imply that yoga may be implemented as a complementary intervention for populations at risk or already suffering from diseases with an inflammatory component. Beyond this, yoga practice may exert further beneficial effects by enhancing cell-mediated and mucosal immunity. It is hypothesized that longer time spans of yoga practice are required to achieve consistent effects especially on circulating inflammatory markers. Overall, this field of investigation is still young, hence the current body of evidence is small and for most immune parameters, more research is required to draw distinct conclusions.

Weathering the seasons of cancer survivorship: mind-body therapy use and reported reasons and outcomes by stages of cancer survivorship.

PURPOSE: Mind-body therapies (MBTs), a subset of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), are used by cancer survivors to manage symptoms related to their cancer experience. MBT use may differ by cancer survivorship stage (i.e., acute, short-term, long-term) because each stage presents varying intensities of medical activities, associated emotions, and treatment effects. We examined the relationship between MBT use and survivorship stage (acute <1 year; short-term 1 to 5 years; long-term >5 years since diagnosis) using the CAM supplement of the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. We also examined reported reasons for and outcomes of MBT use and frequency of MBT types. METHODS: The sample included cancer survivors (N = 3076) and non-cancer controls (N = 31,387). Logistic regression tested the relationship of MBT use and survivorship stage. Weighted percentages were calculated by survivorship stage for reported reasons and outcomes of use and frequency of MBT types. RESULTS: MBT use varied by cancer survivorship stage (p = 0.02): acute (8.3 %), short-term (15.4 %), long-term (11.7 %) survivorship and non-cancer controls (13.2 %). In the adjusted model, short-term survivors had 35 % greater odds of MBT use than did controls (95 % CI 1.00, 1.83). Reasons for and outcomes of MBT use varied among the survivorship stages, with more acute survivors reporting medical-related reasons and more short-term survivors reporting to manage symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: MBT may fulfill different symptom management needs at varying stages of survivorship. These findings can help inform supportive care services of survivors' use of MBT for symptom burden at each stage and the allocation of these services.

Mind-body therapies adjuvant to chemotherapy improve quality of life and fatigue in top cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breast, lung and colorectal cancers are 3 of the top 4 most common cancers worldwide. Their treatment with chemotherapy often results in adverse effects on quality of life, fatigue and functional exercise capacity amongst patients. Mind-body therapies, including yoga, Tai chi and Qigong, are commonly used as complementary and alternative therapies in cancer. This meta-analysis evaluates the effects of yoga, Tai chi and Qigong in alleviating the adverse effects of chemotherapy. METHODS: Various databases were systematically interrogated using specific search terms, returning 1901 manuscripts. Removal of duplicates, irrelevant studies, those lacking available data and applying inclusion/exclusion criteria reduced this number to 9 manuscripts for inclusion in the final meta-analyses. Mean differences were calculated to determine pooled effect sizes using RStudio. RESULTS: This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to demonstrate significant improvements in fatigue for colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with a reduction of -1.40 (95 % CI: -2.24 to -0.56; p = 0.001) observed in mind-body therapy intervention groups. CONCLUSION: Yoga, Tai chi and Qigong could all be implemented alongside adjuvant therapies to alleviate the adverse effects on colorectal cancer patient fatigue during chemotherapy treatment. REVIEW REGISTRATION: This systematic review and meta-analysis is registered on InPlasy: registration number INPLASY202390035; doi: https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.9.0035.

The effectiveness of mind-body therapy and physical training in alleviating depressive symptoms in adult cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of mind-body therapy (MBT) and/or physical training in alleviating depressive symptoms among adult cancer patients through a meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from up to October 21, 2023. Effect sizes, 95% confidence intervals, and other pertinent values were computed utilizing a random-effects model with Review Manager 5.3 and StataMP 14. The reporting of findings adhered to the guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The PROSPERO registration code for this review is 4,203,477,316. RESULTS: 10 randomized controlled trials (11 datasets) involving a total of 620 participants were selected for analysis. The results demonstrated that complementary therapies, encompassing MBT and physical training, were effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in adult cancer patients (SMD= -0.47; 95%CI: -0.87, -0.08; P = 0.02). Subgroup analysis indicate that physical training may effectively alleviate depressive symptoms (SMD= -0.72; 95%CI: -1.31, -0.13; P = 0.02), demonstrating moderate effect sizes. Conversely, MBT does not seem to significantly influence depressive symptoms (P = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Complementary therapy lasting four weeks or more, incorporating physical training and MBT, has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms in adult cancer patients. And physical training has a significant effect on depressive symptoms, while MBT has no effect. Nevertheless, given the constraints of the included studies, further research is required in the future to provide more robust evidence.

Psychophysiologic symptom relief therapy for chronic back pain: hypothesis and trial rationale.

Chronic pain syndromes affect over one-third of the US adult population and often lead to significant disability and a reduced quality of life. Despite their high prevalence, causal links between chronic pain syndromes and anatomic abnormalities are often not apparent. Most current chronic pain treatments provide modest, if any, relief. Thus, there is a pressing need to understand the causal mechanisms implicated in chronic pain as a means to develop more targeted interventions for improvement in clinical outcomes and reduction in morbidity and financial burden. In the present manuscript, we summarize the current literature on treatment for chronic pain, and hypothesize that non-specific chronic back pain (without a clear organic etiology, such as tumors, infections or fractures) is of psychophysiologic origin. Based on this hypothesis, we developed Psychophysiologic Symptom Relief Therapy (PSRT), a novel pain reduction intervention for understanding and treating chronic pain. In this manuscript, we provide the rationale for PSRT, which we have tested in a pilot trial with a subsequent larger randomized trial underway. In the proposed trial, we will evaluate whether non-specific chronic back pain can be treated by addressing the underlying stressors and psychological underpinnings without specific physical interventions.

Evaluating qigong as integrative support for COVID-19 and Long-COVID-19 rehabilitation: a systematic review.

Introduction: Amidst the ongoing global impact of COVID-19 on public health, there is an increasing focus on holistic strategies encompassing integrative therapies and rehabilitation techniques, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by Long-COVID-19. This review investigates the potential of Qigong, an ancient Chinese practice characterized by gentle movements, controlled breathing, and meditative elements, within the context of COVID-19. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify pertinent clinical studies. Results: Following thorough database scrutiny, nine studies were identified as meeting the eligibility criteria. Across the spectrum of COVID-19 severity, individuals engaging in qigong practice exhibited notable enhancements in both physical and psychological wellbeing, evidenced by ameliorated respiratory symptoms, reduced anxiety levels, enhanced sleep quality, bolstered mental wellbeing, and augmented health-related quality of life. Moreover, qigong training, whether employed independently or in conjunction with other therapies, demonstrated beneficial effects on Long-COVID-19 symptoms, encompassing persistent respiratory issues, dizziness, sleep disturbances, and compromised health-related quality of life. Discussion: This review underscores the necessity for further investigation to quantify and standardize the contribution of Qigong to COVID-19 recovery and rehabilitation. Such endeavors aim to integrate this accessible and low-impact practice into public health strategies and comprehensive treatment regimens. Systematic review registration: The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework under the following doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/7K5X6 (URL: https://osf.io/7k5x6).

The wonders of mind-body practices during pregnancy: A topical review.

This topical review provides an up-to-date overview of the latest advancements in mind-body therapies in the gynaecological research field. It explores the various mind-body practices and their multifaceted benefits for expectant mothers during the transformative phase of pregnancy, including physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. The research highlights the importance of these practices in promoting maternal and fetal well-being. Prenatal yoga is found to enhance physical health, reduce discomfort, and lower stress and anxiety levels, potentially leading to shorter labour durations. Meditation is revealed to reduce stress and anxiety while nurturing emotional resilience. Prenatal Pilates improves musculoskeletal health and prepares mothers for labour, emphasising controlled movements and breathing techniques. Breathing techniques prove to be helpful for pregnant women in effectively managing pain during labour. Acupressure and reflexology offer non-pharmacological pain relief for common discomforts. Tai Chi improves physical fitness, flexibility, and mental well-being. This brief review, using evidence available from pre-clinical studies in physiological gynaecology literature, demonstrates the role of mind-body practices in enhancing the pregnancy journey, emphasising their integration into daily routines to contribute to overall well-being. By selecting the right practice or combination, expectant mothers can experience an overall better pregnancy.

A Phenomenological Qualitative Exploration of Mind-Body Therapy Use and Effectiveness Among Young, Middle, and Older Adult Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: Having been diagnosed with and treated for cancer can have negative psychosocial repercussions that may differ across the lifespan. Mind-body therapies (MBTs), such as tai-chi/qigong (TCQ) or mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR), have shown promise in decreasing negative psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors, but few studies have explored potential differences in MBT use and effectiveness across age groups. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological qualitative design was used. Participants included young (18-39), middle (40-64), and older (65+) adult cancer survivors who were diagnosed with any type of cancer and had participated in Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) or Tai Chi/Qigong (TCQ) MBTs. Semi-structured qualitative interviews explored participants' experiences in MBTs and these were analyzed using descriptive phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Among the interviews (n = 18), young (n = 6), middle-aged (n = 8), and older (n = 4) adults participated. 5 themes emerged: influences in joining the program, unique lifestyles, positive class experiences, use of media, and program impacts. Though all age groups benefitted from MBT participation, variations between age groups with respect to the benefits received and motivations for joining the program were observed. DISCUSSION: MBTs had beneficial physical and mental health effects on survivors of all age groups. These benefits were particularly connected to the ongoing life stresses common to each age cohort, such as relief from work and family roles for young adults or support during retirement transition for older adults. Hence, access to MBT programs may be beneficial as part of the survivorship plan for patients and the recruitment strategies or content can be adapted by MBT providers to better target and support age-specific groups. More research is required with a larger sample.

Yoga for COVID-19: An ancient practice for a new condition - A literature review.

A substantial proportion of people with acute COVID-19 develop post-COVID-19 condition (previously known as long-COVID) characterized by symptoms that persist for months after the initial infection, including neuropsychological sequelae. Post-COVID-19 condition frequency varies greatly according to different studies, with values ranging from 4 to 80% of the COVID-19 patients. Yoga is a psycho-somatic approach that increases physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength, and connection. Yoga practice enhances innate immunity and mental health, so it can be used as complementary therapy in the COVID-19 treatment, namely the post-COVID-19 condition. In this article, we conducted a literature review on yoga and COVID-19, finding that an intervention comprising asana, pranayama, and meditation may be a strategy of choice for these patients' recovery. However, further studies are needed to show its effectiveness in this, still unknown, context.

Mind-body therapies for sleep disturbance among patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether mind-body therapies (MBTs) are effective for relieving sleep disturbance among patients with cancer. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Seven English electronic databases were searched from the date of inception to September 2022. All RCTs that included adults (≥18 years) who were treated with mindfulness, yoga, qigong, relaxation, and hypnosis were screened. The outcome was subjective and/or objective sleep disturbance.The revised Cochrane tool (RoB 2.0) was applied to evaluate the risk of bias. The RevMan software was applied to assessed each outcome according different control groups and assessment time points. Subgroup analyses were performed according to different categories of MBTs. RESULTS: Sixty-eight RCTs (6339 participants) were identified. After requesting for missing data from corresponding authors of included RCTs, 56 studies (5051 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed a significant immediate effect of mindfulness, yoga, relaxation, and hypnosis on subjective sleep disturbance, compared with usual care or wait list control, and the effect of mindfulness lasted at least 6 months. For objective sleep outcomes, we observed significant immediate effects of yoga on wake after sleep onset and of mindfulness on sleep onset latency and total sleep time. Compared with active control interventions, MBTs had no significant effect on sleep disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness, yoga, relaxation, and hypnosis were effective in sleep disturbance severity reduction among patients with cancer at post-intervention, and the effect of mindfulness lasted at least 6 months. Future MBTs studies should apply both objective and subjective sleep measurement tools.