This review examines the use of meditation techniques in psychiatry and psychotherapy, focusing on mindfulness meditation. It outlines meditation's history and characteristics, noting potential side effects. The authors analyze meditation's links to psychosis, describing conditions where it may trigger decompensation and research on modified techniques for psychotic patients. Using psychodynamic and cognitive theories, they interpret findings that meditation may trigger psychosis in certain circumstances, while mindfulness-based interventions can help alleviate symptoms during psychotic episodes.
Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis (RISP) is a REM sleep parasomnia with few treatment options. Cognitive-behavioural therapy, the first-line treatment, has limited availability. Meditation-relaxation therapy (MR therapy) is a new option supported by preliminary studies. Two case reports describe MR therapy over an 8-week period. In patient 1, the number and severity of sleep paralysis episodes, as well as worry and stress related to RISP, reduced significantly. In patient 2, who also had an emotionally unstable personality and an eating disorder, RISP did not improve, but depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder decreased and cortisol levels normalized. MR therapy appears promising, though its effect may be limited when other psychiatric disorders coexist.