Meditation for Treating Psychological Disorders

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Learn about meditation for treating anxiety, stress, depression, emotional disorders, mood changes and other mental health conditions.

Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, you should be aware that many of these techniques have not been evaluated in scientific studies. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed. If you plan to visit a practitioner, it is recommended that you choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who abides by the organization's standards. It is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before starting any new therapeutic technique.

Background

Different types of meditation have been practiced for thousands of years across the world. Many types have roots in Eastern religions.

Meditation can generally be defined as the self-regulation of attention to suspend the normal stream of consciousness. A common goal of meditation is to reach a state of "thoughtless awareness," during which a person is passively aware of sensations at the present moment. It is this goal that distinguishes meditation from relaxation. Various types of meditation may use different techniques. Techniques that include constant repetition of sounds or images without striving for a state of thoughtless awareness are sometimes called "quasi-meditative."

Mindfulness — This involves focusing on a physical sensation. When thoughts intrude, the meditating individual returns to the focus.
Breath mediation — This involves focusing on the process of breathing. Breathing exercises taught in childbirth classes are based on this technique.
Visualization — This involves focusing on specific places or situations.
Analytical meditation — This involves an attempt to comprehend the deeper meaning of an object of focus.
Walking meditation — This Zen Buddhist form of meditation called kinhin involves focusing on the sensation of the feet against the ground.
Transcendental meditation — This involves focusing on a mantra (a sound, word or phrase that is repeated over and over, either aloud, as a chant or silently). Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced transcendental medication to the West in the late 1950s, and this practice was well publicized because of its famous followers such as the Beatles. A goal of transcendental meditation is to reach a state of relaxed awareness. Intruding thoughts may be noticed passively before returning to the mantra. The claimed health benefits are controversial, such as improved IQ and reduced violent tendencies. It has been debated as to whether transcendental meditation should be classified as a religion, because some people assert that transcendental meditation constitutes a cult or a religious sect.

Meditation is usually practiced in a quiet environment and in a comfortable position. Sessions vary in length and frequency. It is often recommended that meditation be practiced at the same time each day.

There is no broadly recognized certification or licensure for meditation instructors, although some organized religions and professional organizations have specific requirements for formal training and credentialing of new teachers.

Theory

There are a number of theories about how meditation works and its potential health benefits. One hypothesis is that it reduces activity of the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the fight-or-flight response), leading to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, slower breathing and muscle relaxation.

Several preliminary studies of transcendental meditation have noted these types of effects, although the research techniques were of poor quality, and the results cannot be considered conclusive. Changes in hormone levels, lactic acid levels, blood flow to the brain and brain wave patterns have been reported in some studies that were of poor quality. Better research is necessary to make a firm conclusion.