"At least 1000 research
studies on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
are in print in peer-reviewed
journals, showing it can reduce chronic pain,
high blood pressure, serum cholesterol levels, and
blood
cortisol,
and alleviates depression, anxiety, post-traumatic
stress disorder and eating disorders.
MBSR can also change the way emotions are regulated
in the prefrontal cortex and alter the immune response
to an influenza vaccine."
from The Power of Paying Attention: What Jon
Kabat-Zinn Has Against "Spirituality"in
Psychotherapy Networker (Nov/Dec 2004)
Current
research information
is available from the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health
Care and Society at the University of Massachusetts
Medical School.
There are journal articles summarizing the efficacy and research in the following areas of application and integration of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and physical and mental health diagnosis. In general the findings include:
- Reduction in suffering
- Increased health and wellbeing
- Decreased symptomology
- Decreases medication use
- Decreases treatment cost
- Increases treatment retention and relapse rate
- Increased immune function
- Decreased blood pressure, heart rate, cardiovascular disease and hospitalization
People also report feeling and being less reactive, more satisfied with their lives and less judgmental of themselves and others.
Studies have been completed on the efficacy of MBSR and the following:
- ADD-ADHD
- PTSD
- Grief
- Anxiety
- Depression and depression relapse
- Substance abuse and addiction relapse
- Dissociative behaviors
- Eating disorders
- Anger
- Obsessive compulsiveness
- Panic attacks
- Stress, either acute or chronic
- Psoriasis
- Infertility
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic pain
- Chronic disease
- Caregiviers
- Terminal diagnosis
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
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