Psychosomatic and Physical Well-Being Factors After Mind-Body Interventions in a Hospital Setting.

CONTEXT: Mind-body interventions encompass a variety of treatments that directly affect health. Researchers have found that yoga can decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as improve dietary patterns, enhance physical function and capacity, and enrich sleep. Research has shown that mindfulness can have psychological and physiological benefits and treat symptoms of anxiety and depression. OBJECTIVE: This study intended to compare the benefits of 2 mind-body interventions-yoga and mindfulness-in a hospital setting. DESIGN: The research team performed a retrospective analysis of outcome data obtained from a hospital's programs. SETTING: The study took place at a mind-body center at a hospital in Athens, GA (USA). PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 46 individuals enrolled either in a yoga (n = 24) or a mindfulness (n = 22) intervention program at the hospital. INTERVENTION: Participants self-selected a mind-body-intervention program offered at the hospital: yoga or mindfulness. They received guided training in their chosen intervention at weekly 2-h sessions for 6 to 9 wk. OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants completed measures of anxiety, depression, mindfulness, and quality of life at 2 points during the mind-body programs, at baseline and postintervention. The programs used the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Freiburg-Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), Automatic Thought Questionnaire (ATQ), and RAND 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: The results showed significant decreases between baseline and postintervention in depression (on BDI-II) and anxiety (on BAI) levels for participants in both groups; however, only participants in the mindfulness group showed significant increases in mindfulness (on FMI) and quality of life and decreases in the frequency of negative thoughts (on ATQ) and significant improvements in some health-related measures (on SF-36; all P < .05). However, a significant difference between the groups existed at postintervention only for limitations due to physical health on the SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: The overall findings suggest that both the programs are effective. Although significant differences existed between the groups only for limitations due to physical health, the significant increases in categories other than anxiety and depression for the mindfulness group suggest that mindfulness can offer a more encompassing intervention for improving psychosomatic well-being, although further research is needed.

Integrative intervention: a new perspective and brief review in aphasia.

PURPOSE: While integrative treatment practices have become a popular treatment in different areas of study, its use in the field of aphasiology is still limited. The following paper is an attempt to address the different alternative practices that could potentially be used to remediate aphasia. METHOD: A narrative review was completed regarding integrative intervention that could potentially apply to aphasia population. RESULTS: Through this article we have explored various treatment options for integrative health care in aphasiology. Integrative treatments including brain specific antioxidants, progesterone and estradiol therapy, nutrition, synbiotic treatment, exercise, yoga, meditation and positive mood states have demonstrated positive changes in health and behavior in healthy aging or disorders such as stroke and aphasia. Offering integrative treatment for people with aphasia allows potential for high impact gains when combined with current speech language therapeutic practices. CONCLUSION: This paper highlights the rehabilitation possibilities for aphasia therapy. Combining complementary and traditional treatment approaches could be viewed as one of the contemporary approaches to clinical practice and research for practitioners and health care systems. Implications for Rehabilitation There has been very little research that explores the potential of various types of integrative treatment for individuals with aphasia. An integrative approach to the treatment of aphasia has potential for future clinical application. Combining treatment approaches could be viewed as a viable approach to clinical practice and in the health care system.

Yogic breathing and Ayurveda in aphasia: a case study.

PURPOSE: We present a case study of a woman who used yogic breathing as Ayurvedic medicine in her recovery from poststroke aphasia. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the most ancient medicines of the world, but it is not widely used for aphasia rehabilitation in many Western countries. The description of this case aims to further the understanding of the benefits that this type of medicine may provide to poststroke patients living with aphasia. METHOD: After her stroke, the patient received brief conventional language therapy for her aphasia. At 5 weeks post stroke, she received no further conventional rehabilitation; instead, she consulted with a Vedic priest. She followed a regimen of different body manipulations, yogic breathing techniques, and ingestion of coconut oil. Cognitive and language testing was performed throughout a 3-month period while she was involved in this therapy. RESULTS: Overall, improvement was noted in language, visual attention, and some mood measures. CONCLUSION: Although case studies lead to limited conclusions, changes were observed for this individual using Ayurvedic medicine. Given the changes in language and some aspects of cognition seen in this patient, further exploration of the effectiveness of yogic breathing and Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of poststroke aphasia is warranted.