Exploring the Effectiveness of a Modified Comprehensive Mind-Body Intervention for Medical and Psychologic Symptom Relief.


Author: Vranceanu AM1, Gonzalez A2, Niles H3, Fricchione G4, Baim M3, Yeung A2, Denninger JW4, Park ER5.

Affiliation: 1Behavioral Medicine Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (A-M V)[#32]?>; Behavioral Medicine Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (A-M V)[#32]?>. Electronic address: avranceanu@partners.org. 2Behavioral Medicine Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (A-M V)[#32]?> 3Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (AG, HN, GF, MB, AY, JWD, ERP)[#32]?> 4Behavioral Medicine Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (A-M V)[#32]?>; Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (AG, HN, GF, MB, AY, JWD, ERP)[#32]?> 5Behavioral Medicine Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (A-M V)[#32]?>; Behavioral Medicine Service, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (A-M V)[#32]?>; Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (AG, HN, GF, MB, AY, JWD, ERP)[#32]?>
Conference/Journal: Psychosomatics. 
Date published: 2014 Jan 15
Other:
  Pages: S0033-3182(14)00010-3   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.psym.2014.01.005   ,  Word Count: 168  
    Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic illnesses are a major current health concern associated with elevated stress and increased health care costs.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to describe the preliminary effectiveness of a modified, multimodal 8 week mind-body intervention on reducing physical and psychological symptoms in patients with chronic physical, mental and comorbid health issues.

METHODS:

Two hundred and twenty six adults enrolled in a mind-body group program and completed pre and post program assessments (63% completer rate), including the Medical Symptoms Checklist (MSCL), Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II), and Symptom Checklist 90R (SCL-90R).

RESULTS:

Significant improvement was found on 9 of 23 medical symptoms (p <.002), all health promoting lifestyle behaviors (p <.001), and all mental health symptoms (p <.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results indicate that a multimodal mind-body intervention might be useful as a complementary or adjunct therapy for treatment of chronic medical symptoms. Future research is needed to test the intervention using a randomized controlled trial.

Copyright © 2014 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 24751118