Structured Abstract

Contents

• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction and Background
  • Definition and Types of Meditation
  • Meditation Practices as a Part of Healing and Healthcare
  • Objectives of the Review
• 2. Methods
  • Overview
  • Key Questions and Analytic Approach
  • Literature Review Methods
  • Literature Synthesis
  • Peer Review Process
• 3. Results
  • Topic I. The Practice of Meditation
  • Mantra Meditation
  • Mindfulness Meditation
  • Yoga
  • Tai Chi
  • Qi Gong
  • Characteristics of Meditation Practices
  • Search Results for Topics II to V
  • Topic II. State of Research on the Therapeutic Use of Meditation Practices in Healthcare
  • Control Groups Used in Studies on Meditation Practices
  • Topic III. Evidence on the Efficacy and Effectiveness of Meditation Practices
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Substance Abuse
  • Methodological Quality of Included Studies
  • Summary of the Results
  • Topic IV. Evidence on the Role of Effect Modifiers for the Practice of Meditation
  • Summary of the Results
  • Topic V. Evidence on the Physiological and Neuropsychological Effects of Meditation Practices
  • Summary of the Results
• 4. Discussion
  • The Practice of Meditation
  • State of Research on the Therapeutic Use of Meditation Practices in Healthcare
  • Evidence on the Efficacy and Effectiveness of Meditation Practices
  • Evidence on the Role of Effect Modifiers for the Practice of Meditation
  • Evidence on the Physiological and Neuropsychological Effects of Meditation Practices
  • Strengths and Limitations
  • Future Research
  • Conclusions
• Abbreviations
• Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Technical Experts and Peer Reviewers
  • Appendix B. Development of Consensus on a Set of Criteria for an Operational Definition of Meditation
  • Appendix C. Exact Search Strings
  • Appendix D. Review Forms
  • Appendix E. Excluded Studies and Nonobtained Studies
  • Appendix F. References of Multiple Publications (Topics II to V)
  • Appendix G. Summary Tables for Topic II
  • Appendix H. Characteristics of Clinical Trials of Meditation Practices for the Three Most Studied Conditions
  • Appendix I. Characteristics of Studies Included in Topic V
  • Appendix J. Characteristics of Studies on the Physiological and Neuropsychological Effects of Meditation Practices
• References and Included Studies
• List of Studies Potentially Relevant to the Review

Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.¹ Contract No. 290-02-0023. Prepared by: University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Suggested citation:

Ospina MB, Bond TK, Karkhaneh M, Tjosvold L, Vandermeer B, Liang Y, Bialy L, Hooton N, Buscemi N, Dryden DM, Klassen TP. Meditation Practices for Health: State of the Research. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 155. (Prepared by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290-02-0023.) AHRQ Publication No. 07-E010. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. June 2007.

This report is based on research conducted by the University of Alberta Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. 290-02-0023). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the author(s), who are responsible for its contents, and do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. No statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The information in this report is intended to help clinicians, employers, policymakers, and others make informed decisions about the provision of health care services. This report is intended as a reference and not as a substitute for clinical judgment.

This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied.

The investigators have no relevant financial interests in the report. The investigators have no employment, consultancies, honoraria, or stock ownership or options, or royalties from any organization or entity with a financial interest or financial conflict with the subject matter discussed in the report.

1

540 Gaither Road, Rockville, MD 20850. www​.ahrq.gov