Meditation has prehistoric roots and historical continuity, originating in Indian philosophy and traversing various philosophical and religious systems worldwide before acquiring a secular dimension in psychology and psychotherapy. The article critically reflects on the study and application of meditation in these fields, noting that necessary and sufficient criteria for defining meditation have not been adequately established, and ambiguity persists regarding its history and origins. The intersection of scientificity and transcendence opens a holistic perspective.
A Mindfulness-Based Pain Management (MBPM) program produced lasting improvements for people with chronic non-cancer pain. Among 65 participants, pain intensity, pain acceptance, psychopathological symptoms, negative thoughts related to pain, and physical quality of life all improved significantly after the program, and most gains were maintained at a 12-month follow-up. Better physical quality of life at 12 months was predicted by lower pain intensity and fewer negative thoughts before treatment, and by lower pain intensity and greater acceptance after treatment. The findings suggest that MBPM offers positive and durable benefits for chronic pain.