Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
August 1, 2023
Dali Geagea, David Ogez, Roy Kimble et al.
11 citations
Hypnosis, a mind-body treatment with ancient roots, has shown effectiveness for distress, pain, and psychosomatic disorders, yet myths and misconceptions among the public and clinicians hinder its acceptance. This narrative review traces the history of those myths alongside hypnosis's evolution as a treatment, compares it to similar interventions, and presents evidence to demystify it. It distinguishes hypnotic from non-hypnotic procedures to clarify understanding, aiming to promote hypnosis in clinical and research settings. The review also highlights knowledge gaps needing further investigation to support evidence-based practice and optimize multimodal therapies that include hypnosis.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
August 1, 2024
Renen Taub, Nancy Agmon-Levin, Lee Frumer et al.
7 citations
A randomized controlled trial assigned 95 fibromyalgia patients to either mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) group therapy or a waitlist control group. Compared to controls, the MBSR group showed greater improvements in fibromyalgia symptoms, perceived stress, and depression, with mostly medium effect sizes. Improvements in perceived stress and depression remained stable over six months. The effect of MBSR on fibromyalgia symptoms and perceived stress was mediated by changes in psychological inflexibility in pain, while the effect on depression was mediated by changes in pain catastrophizing. These results suggest MBSR has significant therapeutic potential for fibromyalgia by fostering non-judgmental acceptance and altering pain-related cognitions.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
November 1, 2022
Lindsay M Bennett, Vincent R Starnino
5 citations
Yoga can aid healing for survivors of complex interpersonal trauma, a condition with symptoms beyond standard PTSD. In a qualitative study using transcendental phenomenology, five participants shared their yoga experiences through narrative interviews. Themes emerged including transformation, holistic benefits from different yoga styles, community and relationships, and trauma healing. These findings support incorporating yoga as a therapeutic intervention in clinical social work practice.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
May 1, 2025
Meg Barber, Subhadra Evans, Rosie Marks et al.
3 citations
People with persistent pain who took part in a six-week iRest Yoga Nidra group program reported deep relaxation, restoration, and for some, trauma reprocessing and integration. Participants described improved pain self-management and self-efficacy, and a dis-identification from pain as a personal identity. Some reported motivation and confidence to use iRest instead of medication, aiming to reduce opioid dependence. The program was offered in a specialist outpatient pain management service in a regional public hospital in Victoria, Australia. The findings suggest iRest Yoga Nidra is a personally therapeutic mind-body intervention suitable for various phases of pain care.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
July 21, 2025
Wei-Ting Lai, Li-Yu Yang, Hsun-Kuei Ko et al.
1 citation
Palliative care providers who sustain a regular mindfulness practice after completing a mindfulness-based stress reduction program report that mindfulness fosters resilience by integrating emotional, mental, and existential dimensions. Through interviews with fifteen providers in Taiwan, three themes emerged: discovering inner resilience through mindfulness, living mindfully as a way of life, and staying resilient in challenging environments. Mindfulness served as both an internal regulatory mechanism and a stabilizing force against external uncertainties, helping providers adapt to high-stress settings. The findings suggest that mindfulness is a long-term resilience-building practice that extends beyond short-term stress relief, informing policies on healthcare provider well-being.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
December 23, 2025
Naomi E Clark, Ben Parkinson, Xu Wang et al.
Anxiety and depression are common after stroke and often persist without adequate long-term support. Mindfulness-based interventions can help stroke survivors self-manage these symptoms, but little is known about what keeps survivors practicing after an intervention ends. This secondary analysis of follow-up interviews with 12 stroke survivors who completed the HEADS: UP mindfulness program identified seven mechanisms that supported continued practice: believing practice brings benefits, personal preferences and accessibility, continued learning, attitudes of others and society, togetherness and connection, structuring and scaffolding practice, and competing priorities. The findings suggest that post-intervention support may help sustain mindfulness practice and could inform future intervention design and clinical guidance.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
October 1, 2023
Randi Karkov Knudsen, J. Ammentorp, M. H. Storkholm et al.
Healthcare professionals who completed an eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course reported changes that included allowing pauses, focusing on one thing at a time, greater awareness of choice, increased self-compassion, and more presence and calmness with patients. They also became more aware of how stressful behavior affects themselves and others and valued practicing mindfulness with colleagues. The findings suggest that such training can shift tendencies from neglecting personal needs toward greater compassion for oneself and others, potentially preventing burnout and fostering a more compassionate workplace culture that may improve patient care. Sustaining these changes may require collective understanding and knowledge of mindfulness in the work setting.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
March 31, 2021
Deepal Shah-Zamora, Allison M Allen, Lacy Rardin et al.
A 9-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course improved health-related quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease and increased mindful awareness in their care partners, though care partners' burden did not change. 53.8% of people with Parkinson's and all care partners completed the course. Quantitative results showed a significant reduction in the Parkinson's Disease Quality-39 score for people with Parkinson's and an increase in mindful awareness for care partners. Qualitative reports indicated satisfaction with the course from both groups.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
February 14, 2021
Padmavathi Kora, K. Meenakshi, K. Swaraja et al.
A systematic review of 120 articles examined how machine learning methods classify brain waves (EEG) recorded during yoga and meditation. The review found that various meditation styles—Zen, CHAN, mindfulness, TM, Rajayoga, Kundalini, and yoga—produce distinct EEG patterns. Classification algorithms including KNN, SVM, random forest, fuzzy logic, neural networks, and convolutional neural networks have been used to identify different mental states. Yoga practice may serve as an effective adjunctive treatment for clinical and aging populations. The authors conclude that more research is needed to reliably classify EEG signatures for different mental states.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
October 23, 2020
Martin Lamothe, É. Rondeau, Michel Duval et al.
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for pediatric hematology-oncology professionals did not change biological stress (hair cortisol concentrations), but improved self-reported measures of perceived stress, psychological distress, and burnout. Effects were maintained over three months for psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Larger improvements occurred among participants who attended a retreat and those with higher baseline perceived stress.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
February 1, 2019
Sheila Pintado
A mindfulness program for eight clinical psychologist trainees produced changes in body awareness and self-compassion over eight weekly sessions. Participants first reported awareness of physical sensations, well-being, and sharpening and integration of senses, then increased body awareness of unpleasant sensations and self-compassion. By the end, they reported synchronicity with others, more self-compassion, deepening body awareness, and changes in habits and daily patterns. The authors conclude that mindfulness can improve body awareness and self-compassion and that addressing self-care in future health professionals may help prevent stress and burnout.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
May 1, 2015
Radhika Desai, Anisha Tailor, Tanvi Bhatt
A review of 15 articles found that yoga—including posture-holding (asana), breathing (pranayama, Kriya), and meditation (Sahaj) practices—increases overall brain wave activity. Structural and activation changes, such as increases in gray matter and heightened amygdala and frontal cortex activation, were evident after yoga interventions. Yoga practice may be an effective adjunctive treatment for both clinical and healthy aging populations.