Connecting Mind-Body Therapy-Mediated Effects to Pathological Features of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder that represents a major and increasing global health challenge. In most cases, the first clinical symptoms of AD are preceded by neuropathological changes in the brain that develop years to decades before their onset. Therefore, research in the last years has focused on this preclinical stage of AD trying to discover intervention strategies that might, if implemented effectively, delay or prevent disease progression. Among those strategies, mind-body therapies such as yoga and meditation have gained increasing interest as complementary alternative interventions. Several studies have reported a positive impact of yoga and meditation on brain health in both healthy older adults and dementia patients. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms contributing to these effects are currently not known in detail. More specifically, it is not known whether yogic interventions, directly or indirectly, can modulate risk factors or pathological mechanisms involved in the development of dementia. In this article, we first review the literature on the effects of yogic practices on outcomes such as cognitive functioning and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Then, we analyze how yogic interventions affect different risk factors as well as aspects of AD pathophysiology based on observations of studies in healthy individuals or subjects with other conditions than dementia. Finally, we integrate this evidence and propose possible mechanisms that might explain the positive effects of yogic interventions in cognitively impaired individuals.

Mind-body practices in U.S. adults: Prevalence and correlates.

OBJECTIVES: Mind-body practices (MBP), such as Yoga or Tai-Chi, have increased in popularity in the past 25 years in the US. These activities may help promote a less sedentary lifestyle and may have positive effects on health. The objective of the present study is to understand the prevalence and trends of MBP in US adults and the factors associated with their use in a population-based adult lifespan sample. METHODS: We used data from three waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey (1995, 2005, and 2015), a population-based longitudinal study of community-dwelling adults. Only data from participants with valid observations across three waves (N = 2262) aged 24-74 years at baseline (M = 46; SD = 11) were used. We examined the prevalence of MBP, longitudinal patterns, and correlates of MBP use over 20 years. RESULTS: Rates of MBP use were relatively stable over time in this sample, with 20%, 17%, and 18% of participants using MBP at wave 1, 2, and 3, respectively. A number of sociodemographic and health variables were independently related to frequency of MBP use over 20 years: Women, participants with higher levels of education, never married participants, and participants who suffered from multiple chronic health conditions were more likely to use MBP. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that MBP may provide an opportunity for physical activity for individuals suffering from chronic health conditions. More research is needed to understand whether this, in turn, results in better health outcomes for these individuals.

Hypnosis in the clinical setting.

Therapeutic hypnosis has been in use for hundreds of years, yet it is still is still relatively unknown as a therapeutic modality and underutilized by health care professionals. Nurse practitioners are in a unique position to bring hypnosis into the forefront of our work with patients and clients in most clinical settings. The author aims to introduce nurse practitioners to the potential and possibilities of incorporating hypnosis into individual treatment plans.

Contemplative Practices and Hypnosis: Emerging Perspectives and Future Directions.

A distinctive feature common to many contemplative practices is a focus of attention and procedure of induction toward achieving an altered state of consciousness. In recent years, practices like mindfulness have become increasingly popular, and there has been increased interest in the relationship between hypnosis and mindfulness-based practices as well as other contemplative practices including meditation, music, and spirituality. However, questions remain such as: What are the similarities and differences between hypnosis and mindfulness/other contemplative practices?; What is the role of suggestion in mindfulness-based interventions?; Do some contemplative practices have hypnotic-like aspects in their application?; What is the role of words, images, and intentions in contemplative practices?; Can hypnosis be integrated with music and spiritual practices for beneficial effects? This special issue includes eight articles that provide insights and empirical research into contemplative practices and hypnosis. Emerging perspectives and future directions for research and practice are presented.

Use of Mind-Body Therapies Among Young Adults Aged 18-24 Years: Findings From the 2012 National Health Interview Survey.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence, patterns, and satisfaction of use of mind-body therapies (MBTs) in a nationally representative sample of young adults (ages 18-24 years). METHODS: Young adults interviewed in the 2012 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed (n = 3,286). Individual types (e.g., mindfulness) and a combined measure of use of any MBT were assessed. Reasons for and satisfaction with use was also investigated. Design-based F tests and logistic regression were used; all analyses were weighted and stratified by gender. RESULTS: Overall, 14.6% of young adults used MBT in the past year (9.6% of men and 19.1% of women, p < .001). Among men, higher levels of education, greater numbers of health conditions, and healthy behaviors were associated with greater odds of MBT use. Among women, Latina and black women had lower odds of use (vs. white). Higher education, greater mental distress, and greater numbers of health conditions and healthy behaviors were associated with greater odds of use. While both men and women reported stress reduction and general wellness as top reasons for use, men also reported the use to improve athletic performance. CONCLUSIONS: Young adulthood is a critical period in the life course when individuals are establishing lifestyle and health behaviors that can be enduring. Because stress is a persistent problem, and many MBTs can be helpful with management of stress and anxiety, young adult may be underutilizing these modalities. Public health and educational strategies for greater engagement in MBT among young adults are warranted.

Integrative medicine: Breaking down silos of knowledge and practice an epigenetic approach.

The future of medicine is discussed in the context of epigenetic influences during the entire life course and the lived experiences of each person, avoiding as much as possible the "medicalization" of the individual and taking a more humanistic view. The reciprocal communication between brain and body via the neuroendocrine, autonomic, metabolic and immune systems and the plasticity of brain architecture provide the basis for devising better "top down" interventions that engage the whole person in working towards his or her welfare. The life course perspective emphasizes the importance of intervening early in life to prevent adverse early life experiences, including the effects of poverty, that can have lifelong consequences, referred to as "biological embedding". In the spirit of integrative, humanistic medicine, treatments that "open windows of plasticity" allow targeted behavioral interventions to redirect brain and body functions and behavior in healthier directions. Policies of government and the private sector, particularly at the local, community level, can create a supporting environment for such interventions. See "Common Ground for Health: Personalized, Precision and Social Medicine McEwen & Getz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRy_uUWyrEw.

[Monastery Medicine - What's the story behind it? What's reasonable, what's no good?] / Klostermedizin: Was steckt dahinter? Was hilft, was nicht?

"Monastery medicine" refers to the traditional medieval European medicine, which was above all in the hands of monks and nuns. We warn against the uncritical application of the historical treatment recommendations, such as by Hildegard von Bingen, as herbal humoralpathological drugs are not always harmless. Modern phytotherapy, however, is well-founded in science. Combined with adapted monastic elements such as dietetics and regulative therapy, as the basis of a "new monastery medicine", it can be used as a supplement to academic medicine.

[Task Force - «Naturheilkunde und Komplementärmedizin in medizinischen Leitlinien¼].

Im Rahmen der aktuellen Wissenschaftskultur stellt das Bestreben, die evidenzbasierte Naturheilkunde in die Leitlinien zu integrieren, eine besondere Herausforderung dar. In Deutschland werden medizinische Leitlinien primär von den wissenschaftlichen medizinischen Fachgesellschaften und deren Dachgesellschaft, der Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V. (AWMF), entwickelt und verbreitet. Bisher wird das große klinische Potential von Naturheilkunde und Komplementärmedizin an vielen Stellen nur unzureichend berücksichtigt. Mit der Aufnahme der Gesellschaft für Phytotherapie (GPT) in die AWMF wurde im Jahr 2013 ein neues Kapitel in der Leitlinienarbeit der von der Rut- und Klaus-Bahlsen-Stiftung geförderten Arbeitsgruppe «Naturheilkunde und Komplementärmedizin in medizinischen Leitlinien¼ aufgeschlagen. Die Bestrebung, Naturheilkunde und Komplementärmedizin fester in der konventionellen medizinischen Versorgung in Deutschland zu etablieren, bekommt damit weiter Auftrieb. Durch die Förderung der Rut- und Klaus-Bahlsen-Stiftung wurden die Mitarbeit oder Unterstützung bei bisher mehr als 20 nationalen und internationalen Leitlinien, die Erstellung von 8 Cochrane-Reviews, 4 davon federführend, und von 40 systematischen Reviews und Meta-Analysen in internationalen Peer-Review-Zeitschriften möglich. Erst durch die konsequente Ausweitung und Vollendung der begonnenen Arbeit wird eine Rückentwicklung (und Rückabwicklung) im Feld der Leitlinienarbeit unmöglich gemacht und damit die Anerkennung von Naturheilkunde und Komplementärmedizin im Fächerkanon weiter gestärkt.

Mind-body therapies for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain management typically consists of prescription medications or provider-based, behavioral, or interventional procedures which are often ineffective, may be costly, and can be associated with undesirable side effects. Because chronic pain affects the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), patient-centered complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) therapies that acknowledge the patients' roles in their own healing processes have the potential to provide more efficient and comprehensive chronic pain management. Active self-care complementary and integrative medicine (ACT-CIM) therapies allow for a more diverse, patient-centered treatment of complex symptoms, promote self-management, and are relatively safe and cost-effective. To date, there are no systematic reviews examining the full range of ACT-CIM used for chronic pain symptom management. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted, using Samueli Institute's rapid evidence assessment of the literature (REAL©) methodology, to rigorously assess both the quality of the research on ACT-CIM modalities and the evidence for their efficacy and effectiveness in treating chronic pain symptoms. A panel of subject matter experts was also convened to evaluate the overall literature pool and develop recommendations for the use and implementation of these modalities. RESULTS: Following key database searches, 146 randomized controlled trials were included in the review, 54 of which investigated mind-body therapies, as defined by the authors. CONCLUSIONS: This article summarizes the current evidence, quality, efficacy, and safety of these modalities. Recommendations and next steps to move this field of research forward are also discussed. The entire scope of the review is detailed throughout the current Pain Medicine supplement.

Behavioral and mind/body interventions in headache: unanswered questions and future research directions.

BACKGROUND: Many unanswered questions remain regarding behavioral and mind/body interventions in the treatment of primary headache disorders in adults. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to ascertain the most pressing unanswered research questions regarding behavioral and mind/body interventions for headache. RESULTS: We identify the most pressing unanswered research questions in this field, describe ideal and practical ways to address these questions, and outline steps needed to facilitate these research efforts. We discuss proposed mechanisms of action of behavioral and mind/body interventions and outline goals for future research in this field. CONCLUSIONS: Although challenges arise from the complex nature of the interventions under study, research that adheres to published study design and reporting standards and focuses closely on answering key questions is most likely to lead to progress in achieving these goals.

Mind-body practices: an alternative, drug-free treatment for smoking cessation? A systematic review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The limited success of current smoking cessation therapies encourages research into new treatment strategies. Mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation have the potential to aid smoking cessation and become an alternative drug-free treatment option. The aim of this article is to assess the efficacy of yoga and other meditation-based interventions for smoking cessation, to identify the challenges of clinical trials applying mind-body treatments, and to outline directions for future research on these types of therapies to assist in smoking cessation. METHODS: A systematic review of the scientific literature. RESULTS: Fourteen clinical trials met the inclusion criteria defined for this review. Each article was reviewed thoroughly, and evaluated for quality, design, and methodology. Although primary outcomes differed between studies, the fourteen articles, most with limitations, reported promising effects supporting further investigation of the use of these practices to improve smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: The literature supports yoga and meditation-based therapies as candidates to assist smoking cessation. However, the small number of studies available and associated methodological problems require more clinical trials with larger sample sizes and carefully monitored interventions to determine rigorously if yoga and meditation are effective treatments.

Mind-body medicine for schizophrenia and psychotic disorders: a review of the evidence.

Over half of psychiatric patients use some kind of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, with Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) being the most commonly used collective modality. To date however, to our knowledge, no overarching review exists examining MBM for psychotic disorders. Thus the purpose of this paper is to present the first review in this area. A MEDLINE search was conducted of articles written in English from 1946 up to January 15, 2011 using a range of MBM and psychotic disorder search terms. Human clinical trials and, where available, pertinent meta-analyses and reviews were included in this paper. Forty-two clinical studies and reviews of MBMs were located, revealing varying levels of evidence. All studies included used MBMs as an adjunctive therapy to usual care, including medication. Overall, supportive evidence was found for music therapy, meditation and mindfulness techniques. Some positive studies were found for yoga and breathing exercises, general relaxation training, and holistic multi-modality MBM interventions. Due to insufficient data, a conclusion cannot be reached for hypnosis, thermal or EMG biofeedback, dance or drama therapy, or art therapy. No clinical trials were found for guided imagery, autogenic training, journal writing, or ceremony practices. For many techniques, the quality of research was poor, with many studies having small samples, no randomization, and no adequate control. While the above techniques are likely to be safe and tolerable in this population based on current data, more research is required to decisively assess the validity of applying many MBMs in the mainstream treatment of psychotic disorders.

Has the use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies by U.S. adults with chronic disease-related functional limitations changed from 2002 to 2007?

OBJECTIVES: This study examined changes in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies by U.S. adults aged 18 years or older with chronic disease-related functional limitations between 2002 and 2007. DESIGN: The study was a cross-sectional survey. SETTING/LOCATION: The study was conducted in the United States. SUBJECTS: The study comprised adults aged 18 years or older with chronic disease-related functional limitations. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2002 and 2007 U.S. National Health Interview Survey to compare the use of 22 CAM therapies (n=9313 and n=7014, respectively). Estimates were age adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. standard population. RESULTS: The unadjusted and age-standardized prevalence of overall CAM use (22 therapies comparable between both survey years) was higher in 2007 than in 2002 (30.6% versus 26.9%, p<0.001 and 34.4% versus 30.6%, p<0.001, respectively). Adults with functional limitations that included changing and maintaining body position experienced a significant increase in CAM use between 2002 and 2007 (31.1%-35.0%, p<0.01). The use of deep breathing exercises was the most prevalent CAM therapy in both 2002 and 2007 and increased significantly during this period (from 17.9% to 19.9%, p<0.05). The use of meditation, massage, and yoga also increased significantly from 2002 and 2007 (11.0%-13.5%, p<0.01; 7.0%-10.9%, p<0.0001; and 5.1% to 6.6%, p<0.05, respectively), while the use of the Atkins diet decreased (2.2%- 1.4%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among U.S. adults with chronic disease-related functional limitations, the overall increase in CAM use from 2002 to 2007 was significant, particularly among those with changing and maintaining body position limitations.

[On the relationship of psychosomatic and mind-body medicine: integrative, complementary or alternative disciplines within an evolutionary approach?]. / Psychosomatik und Mind-Body-Medizin: Integrative, komplementäre oder alternative Disziplinen? Ein entwicklungslogisches Argument.

The text outlines the relation between psychosomatic medicine as an established medical discipline and the emerging concept of mind-body medicine from a historical, clinical and epistemological perspective. Limitations and contributions of both disciplines are discussed and the opportunities within the concept of Integrative Medicine are outlined. Whereas psychosomatic medicine is perceived as a form of transformation through a primarily verbal discoursive relationship, mind-body medicine claims healing through increased traditional techniques of the relaxation response, increased awareness, mindfulness, increasing des-identification and health-promoting lifestyle modification. It becomes clear that mind-body medicine seems to be epistemologically the broader theoretical framework, whereas in a clinical context the combination of both disciplines appears to be complementary and synergistic. The connection between psychosomatic medicine and mind-body medicine can make an important and exemplary contribution to the concept of Integrative Medicine.

[Implementing mindfulness based therapies as part of the comprehensive treatments in the Beer Sheba Mental Health Center].

In recent years, there has been a growing interest and popularity in mindfulness-based therapies. Theories and practices that, until lately, have been considered esoteric and practiced in private by only a few therapists, are now progressively becoming part of mainstream establishment therapies and are gaining greater interest and recognition. The therapies can be carried out either in an individual or in a group setting and most include formal mindful sitting practice, developing awareness, mindful movement, psycho-education and often include a cognitive component. Furthermore, these therapies are becoming increasingly validated by widespread research pointing to promising results in the treatment of various cLinicaL disorders including anxiety, depression and relapse prevention, personality disorders, attention disorders and psychotic disorders, in both an in-patient and out-patient setting. The aim of this overview is to describe the deveLopment that has taken place in the fast decades within the field of mindfulness-based therapies and to present the most up-to-date research in this area: to show which therapeutic interventions have been proven to be effective; the background of the ideas; and the relevance of these approaches to the mental health system in Israel.

[Mind-body connection, parapsychological phenomena and spiritual healing. A review]. / Conexión mente-cuerpo, fenómenos parapsicológicos y curación espiritual. Revisión.

Evidence regarding the influence of the mind on the body is abundant. Several mind-body healing procedures are currently being used, among them hypnosis, biofeedback, meditation, visualizations, management of emotions and prayer. Since the Big Bang, we are entangled with everything. This interaction would let individuals to communicate with the minds and bodies of others. The field of parapsychological research has provided a lot of information about significant events, including apparitions, communications with the dead, near-death experiences and out of the body experiences. It looks apparently evident, that consciousness can persist in the absence of brain function. According to the model that assumes that it is consciousness and not matter, the base of everything that exists, what survives after death is the "quantum monad" or spirit. It is said that spiritual cures are practiced by discarnate physicians who diagnose and prescribe conventional treatments, but very often they use unknown procedures based on the management of energy fields that are currently being studied by many physicists. Representative examples of the practice of spiritual medicine were the mediums Ze Arigo, George Chapman, Barbara Guerrero (Pachita) and presently the Brazilian medium John of God. Case reports of paranormal phenomena observed and studied by honest and serious scientists are very important for the advancement of parapsychology, because it has not been clearly established which approach, the qualitative or the quantitative, is more useful for the development of this field.

[The importance of mindfulness-based interventions in medical and psychotherapeutic care]. / Die Bedeutung achtsamkeitsbasierter Interventionen in der medizinischen und psychotherapeutischen Versorgung.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based approaches are gaining increasing importance in medicine and psychology. Mindfulness has been described as the intentional and non-judgemental regulation of attention on inner and outer experiences in the present moment. It has been claimed to be conducive to health. METHODS: Based on an electronic literature review, the concept of mindfulness and related approaches in medicine and behavioral psychology are described. This article provides an overview of the status of current research, including randomized trials up to September 2008. The current status of research is summarized regarding effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of mindfulness-based approaches. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In spite of methodical flaws of the studies reviewed, numerous findings suggest that mindfulness-based approaches are beneficial in the treatment and prevention of various diseases. In order to further assess specific effects and underlying mechanisms of mindfulness, additional randomized trials have to be conducted which include adequate control interventions.