Complementary therapies in medicine
June 1, 2013
Surbhi Khanna, Jeffrey M Greeson
250 citations
Yoga and mindfulness show promise as complementary therapies for addiction, supported by a growing number of clinical trials and laboratory studies on smoking, alcohol dependence, and illicit substance use. These practices, rooted in ancient Buddhist philosophy and traditional yoga, may target psychological, neural, physiological, and behavioral processes involved in addiction and relapse. However, few studies have examined yoga specifically, and more research is needed to determine which interventions work best for different addictions and patient types. A conceptual model is proposed to guide future studies on outcomes and mechanisms.
JAMA internal medicine
July 1, 2024
Christopher E Cox, John A Gallis, Maren K Olsen et al.
22 citations
Among survivors of critical illness with elevated depression symptoms, a mindfulness intervention delivered via a mobile app was tested to find the best way to deliver it. In a randomized trial with 247 participants, those who meditated twice daily had lower depression scores at one month (by 1.2 points on a 27-point scale) and at three months (by 1.5 points) compared to those who meditated once daily. The method of introducing the intervention (app vs. therapist call) and how increasing symptoms were managed (app vs. therapist call) did not affect depression scores. Adherence was high, with 87.9% still using the intervention at the end. The optimal version combined an app-based introduction, twice-daily guided meditation, and app-based symptom management.
CHEST critical care
June 1, 2024
Christopher E Cox, John A Gallis, Maren K Olsen et al.
3 citations
Among survivors of COVID-19 hospitalization with elevated depression symptoms, a self-directed mobile app mindfulness intervention showed no benefit over usual care and had poor adherence. In a randomized trial at 29 US sites, 56 participants were assigned to a four-week app program or control. At three months, depression scores improved similarly in both groups (intervention -0.5 vs control +0.1), with no meaningful differences in anxiety or quality of life; six-month results were comparable. Only about half of intervention participants started the program, and adherence was low. Regulatory delays added nearly a year before the trial could launch. The findings suggest that future large-scale psychological distress interventions should prioritize patient engagement and streamlined regulatory processes.