Review Finds Meditation Somewhat Effective Against Anxiety And Depression

[Judi Lynn]

Review Finds Meditation Somewhat Effective Against Anxiety And Depression

A meta-analysis of 47 previously published studies concludes that there's moderate evidence for meditation offering some relief of anxiety and depression, and low or insufficient evidence for effects on other conditions. Christie Nicholson reports.

Jan 27, 2014

Advocates claim numerous health benefits for meditation, many of which are supported by studies on the practice. Still, meditation has not become part of mainstream medicine.

So researchers at Johns Hopkins University analyzed 47 previously published clinical trials to narrow down the most effective use for meditation as medical therapy.

The studies involved more than 3,500 patients suffering from various issues including stress, addiction, depression, anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic pain. The meta-analysis is in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. (Madhav Goyal et al, Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis)

Apparently practicing just 30 minutes of meditation per day significantly decreases the symptoms of anxiety and depression. An 8-week training program in mindfulness meditation – where participants have to focus on the current moment – led to optimal improvement in lowering anxiety, depression and pain. And the improvements continued over the six months following the training.

More:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/meditation-meta-analysis/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciam%2Fmind-and-brain+%28Topic%3A+Mind+%26+Brain%29

[Common Sense Party]

1. So we can scratch it off the "Woo" list?

Or not yet?

[longship]

2. Meta analysis!

In other words, one can kinda maybe cherry pick the data sets. Or maybe just make up shit.

[tridim]

3. Yep. The "woo" list is too crowded with official corporate woo anyway.

Like Statins for instance.

Meditation has never been woo, it's just doesn't come in a pill form at $250/month so Americans dismiss it, as they have been trained to do by TPTB.

[postulater]

5. And surgeries. Like arthroscopic knee surgeries.

"In this trial involving patients without knee osteoarthritis but with symptoms of a degenerative medial meniscus tear, the outcomes after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy were no better than those after a sham surgical procedure."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270681.php

[sakabatou]

7. I don't it has been woo

If it has, it's been off a long time.

[Thor_MN]

8. If one can get some people to self report their symptoms are relieved by "X",

is "X" an effective treatment or is it woo? When there are no objective measures, it basically comes down to the subjective opinions of others.

Personally, I reserve "woo" for things that have been proven to have no basis in reality, especially if they are promoted as a cure all. If someone believes meditation, or prayer, or holding a rock will help their anxiety, they should by all means try it. But promoting it as a cure for any and all, (people or conditions) that would be woo.

[caraher]

4. I don't see how meditation would ever make a "woo" list

Behavior and biochemistry do interact beyond the placebo effect. Meditation is not about bringing down some magic from outer space or an invisible man in the sky, and there have been plenty of imaging studies showing that meditation can have significant measurable effects on brain function.

[sakabatou]

6. Hasn't this been known for a while?