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IMPROVED BRAIN FUNCTION FROM MEDITATION FOLLOWING AN AWARENESS TRAINING PROGR AMME IN SPIRITUAL MEDICINE (ATPi SM)

Monica Jain, Nishtha Khatri, Pravin Jamadar

Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences June 24, 2015 DOI: 10.14260/jemds/2015/1286 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 40
Population MBBS medical students of either sex, aged 18 to 21 years, at the authors' institute
Intervention Meditation
Duration Two months of daily meditation, 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening
Measures Visual reaction time (VRT), stopwatch visual reaction time (S-VRT), Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF), Computer based Memory Test (CMT), Digit Cancellation Test (DCT)
Topics Meditation
Key findings The authors report that adding the ATPiSM awareness training module to a two-month meditation practice improved psychomotor and cognitive test scores in medical students compared with meditation alone, and that the trained group showed higher meditation compliance (83-90% versus 48-90%). They argue that such awareness training may encourage greater participation in spiritual practices.

Abstract

The relevance of spiritual practices in health and diseases is well recognized but its application in health care management is lacking.There are many factors responsible for present state of affairs.Firstly, spirituality is dismissed as superstitions, blind faith or worst as quackery resulting in to its poor coverage in modern medical curriculum.Secondly, there is lack of information on evidence based spiritual practices that separate them from superfluous rituals, earlier circumstantial needs, beliefs or extremist concepts.Thirdly, spiritual medicine does not constitute part of medical curriculum so few students, if at all, may take up this as career option.Lastly, research in spiritual medicine requires a well-equipped laboratory, high tech instruments and a team of expert scientists to generate credible data.All these require extra budgetary provision to an already constrained economy.Interestingly, current technological advances and hard core research at some of the premiere institutes of mind-body-medicine abroad have shown remarkable health benefits from a host of spiritual practices.Unfortunately, not only common man, but even health care professionals seem to be ignorant about these developments and hence remain skeptical about spirituality related discussions or deliberations.There is need to create awareness among common people and health care professionals regarding anticipated health benefits from spiritual practices as evident from scientific data.Such attempt may encourage people to participation in spirituality related activities with zeal and enthusiasm.The present study is aimed to verify this fact.For this purpose, we have prepared a training module based on available scientific evidence on mind-bodymedicine.The said information is compiled in the form of Power Point Presentation (ppt) and termed as ATPiSM, an abbreviated form of "Awareness Training Programme in Spiritual Medicine".MATERIAL & METHODS: STUDY SUBJECTS: 40 medical students of either sex between the ages of 18 to 21 years studying in MBBS at the institute constituted study population.After explaining purpose of the study and getting their consent, all the volunteers underwent a battery of tests for psycho-motor, cognitive and psycho-social functions.All volunteers were instructed regarding meditation practice by an expert.They were asked to meditate daily for about 15 minutes in the morning and as well as in the evening for two months.Subsequently, volunteers were divided in to two groups of 20 each by random allocation as treatment (T) and control (C) groups.The treatment group also received additional information on spiritual medicine in the form ATPiSM at the start of the study.At the end of two months, all the test parameters were repeated for both the groups.Observations were recorded and results were analyzed.RESULTS: Compliance for meditation: Test group compliance for meditation was found to be in the range of 83 to 90% while control group compliance ranged between 48 to 90%.There was significant difference between pre and post interventional scores among test volunteers for psychomotor tests viz Visual reaction time (VRT, p<.002), stopwatch-VRT (S-VRT, p<.005) and Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF, <0.007).Significant differences were also noted between pre and post intervention scores among study volunteers in cognitive function tests.Computer based Memory Test (CMT, p<.001), Digit Cancellation Test (DCT,

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment 2003 Randomized controlled trial n = 41
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults 2008 Randomized controlled trial n = 139
Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students 2007 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

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