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Aditee D, Pankaj M, Neil B, Nayereh P, Dali F, N Srivatsa U. Meditation for Improved Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Implantable Defibrillators for Heart Failure- Pilot Study. J Atr Fibrillation 2020; 12:2314. [PMID: 33024493 PMCID: PMC7533122 DOI: 10.4022/jafib.2314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sympathetic activation is associated with congestive heart failure (CHF) and leads to adverse clinical events.We hypothesized that meditation by reducing emotional reactivity would have beneficial effect in reducing arrhythmias compared to control patients. METHODS Patients known to have CHF and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were randomized to Vipassana meditation or usual care control group. Meditation group underwent meditation classes three times during the first week, thereafter every once two weeks. They were encouraged to practice meditation at least once everyday. The ICD was followed by clinic/ remote visits. Atrial (AA) and ventricular arrhythmias (VA) as well cardiac events were assessed in follow up. Chi square test was used to compare nominal variables and t test for continuous variables. RESULTS Patients (n=25, 65% male, mean LVEF 25%, HTN 38%, Diabetes 12%, coronary artery disease 38%, NYHA class 2.2) were followed for 79 + 36 months. Comparing meditation vs control, survival was higher (88%vs 67%); there was less cumulative sustained AF episodes (mean 0.9, IQR 0-1 vs 2.5, IQR 2-4, p=0.045), sustained VT occurred (25% vs 55%, amiodarone use (none vs 44%), and VT ablation in 6.6% vs 33% in the meditation group. CONCLUSIONS In this first pilot study of meditation in CHF patients with ICD, during long term follow up, there is a trend for improved survival and reduced arrhythmias in patients randomized to meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fan Dali
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine
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Solomonova E, Dubé S, Blanchette-Carrière C, Sandra DA, Samson-Richer A, Carr M, Paquette T, Nielsen T. Different Patterns of Sleep-Dependent Procedural Memory Consolidation in Vipassana Meditation Practitioners and Non-meditating Controls. Front Psychol 2020; 10:3014. [PMID: 32038390 PMCID: PMC6989470 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and sleep spindles are all implicated in the consolidation of procedural memories. Relative contributions of sleep stages and sleep spindles were previously shown to depend on individual differences in task processing. However, no studies to our knowledge have focused on individual differences in experience with Vipassana meditation as related to sleep. Vipassana meditation is a form of mental training that enhances proprioceptive and somatic awareness and alters attentional style. The goal of this study was to examine a potential role for Vipassana meditation experience in sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation. Methods Groups of Vipassana meditation practitioners (N = 22) and matched meditation-naïve controls (N = 20) slept for a daytime nap in the laboratory. Before and after the nap they completed a procedural task on the Wii Fit balance platform. Results Meditators performed slightly better on the task before the nap, but the two groups improved similarly after sleep. The groups showed different patterns of sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation: in meditators, task learning was positively correlated with density of slow occipital spindles, while in controls task improvement was positively associated with time in REM sleep. Sleep efficiency and sleep architecture did not differ between groups. Meditation practitioners, however, had a lower density of occipital slow sleep spindles than controls. Conclusion Results suggest that neuroplastic changes associated with meditation practice may alter overall sleep microarchitecture and reorganize sleep-dependent patterns of memory consolidation. The lower density of occipital spindles in meditators may mean that meditation practice compensates for some of the memory functions of sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta Solomonova
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Culture, Mind and Brain Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Dubé
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cloé Blanchette-Carrière
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Dasha A Sandra
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Arnaud Samson-Richer
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Michelle Carr
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Sleep Laboratory, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Tyna Paquette
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Tore Nielsen
- Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, CIUSSS NÎM - HSCM, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Yela JR, Crego A, Gómez-Martínez MÁ, Jiménez L. Self-compassion, meaning in life, and experiential avoidance explain the relationship between meditation and positive mental health outcomes. J Clin Psychol 2020; 76:1631-1652. [PMID: 31981226 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite consistent evidence for the beneficial effects of meditation on mental health, little is known about the mechanisms that make mindfulness meditation effective. METHOD The levels of mental health, self-compassion, presence of meaning in life, and experiential avoidance of meditators (n = 414) and nonmeditators (n = 414) were measured and compared. Bootstrap-based structural equation modeling (SEM) modeling analyses were used to test multiple-step multiple-mediator models. RESULTS Meditation was positively associated with mental health, although the regularity of practice was an influential element to be considered. Significant indirect effects of meditation on mental health through self-compassion, meaning in life, and experiential avoidance were found. SEM models were able to account for 58% of the variance in mental health scores. CONCLUSIONS Self-compassion, presence of meaning in life, and reduced experiential avoidance may be active components of healthy meditation practices. Identifying the mechanisms involved in effective meditation practices has relevant implications for well-being and mental health-promoting interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Ramón Yela
- Faculty of Psychology, Pontifical University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Antonio Crego
- Faculty of Psychology, Pontifical University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Laura Jiménez
- Health Psychology Service, Pontifical University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Guha
- Maudsley Philosophy Group, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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Mental health interventions in Myanmar: a review of the academic and gray literature. Glob Ment Health (Camb) 2018; 5:e8. [PMID: 29507744 PMCID: PMC5827419 DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2017.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent political changes in Myanmar provide opportunities to expand mental health (MH) services. Given Myanmar's unique situation, we felt a need to assemble and interpret available local information on MH in Myanmar to inform service design, rather than simply drawing lessons from other countries. We reviewed academic and gray literature on the experience of MH problems in Myanmar and the suitability, availability, and effectiveness of MH and psychosocial programming. METHODS We searched: (1) Google Scholar; (2) PubMed; (3) PsychInfo; (4) English-language Myanmar journals and databases; (5) the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Network resources website; (6) websites and (7) local contacts of organizations identified during 2010 and 2013 mapping exercise of MHPSS providers; (8) the Myanmar Information Management Unit (MIMU) website; (9) University libraries in Yangon and Mandalay; and (10) identified local MH professionals. RESULTS Qualitative data suggest that MH conditions resulting from stress are similar to those experienced elsewhere. Fourteen intervention evaluations were identified: three on community-level interventions, three on adult religion-based practice (meditation), four adult psychotherapeutic interventions, and four child-focused interventions. Support for the acceptability and effectiveness of interventions is mostly anecdotal. With the exception of two rigorous, randomized control trials, most evaluations had serious methodologic limitations. CONCLUSIONS Few evaluations of psychotherapeutic or psychosocial programs for people from Myanmar have been published in the black or gray literature. Incorporating rigorous evaluations into existing and future programs is imperative for expanding the evidence base for psychotherapeutic and psychosocial programs in this context.
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Merakou K, Kyklou E, Antoniadou E, Theodoridis D, Doufexis E, Barbouni A. Health-related quality of life of a very special population: monks of Holy Mountain Athos, Greece. Qual Life Res 2017; 26:3169-3175. [PMID: 28616674 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-017-1622-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The investigation of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of Orthodox Christian monks who live at the Holy Mount Athos in Greece, and its correlation with demographic characteristics and Sense of Coherence (SOC-13). METHODS A cross-sectional study was designed. The seven monasteries and five scetes with the largest number of monk population were invited to participate. Two monasteries and 1 scete gave their permission for the study. The final monks sample was formed by 166 monks from 215 who participated to the study. HRQOL was assessed using the SF-12 and Sense of Coherence the SOC-13 scales that were completed by monks from May to August 2012. Μultiple linear regression analyses were conducted to explore the association of the HRQOL subscales with the demographics and SOC-13. RESULTS The mean age was 45.5 ± 13.0 years; 83.7% lived in communal monasteries, and the mean number of years in monasticism was 18.4 ± 12.1. The mean value of their Physical Component Summary (PCS) score was 47.3 ± 5.3, which is lower than in the general Greek men population, while their Mental Component Summary (MCS) score was 56.4 ± 5.8, which is higher than in the general Greek men population. The mean value of SOC-13 was 65.7 ± 6.5. Positive association for PCS appeared for place of living (β = 5.43, SE = 1.27, p < 0.001) and negative association for age (β = -0.16, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001) while for MCS for number of years in monasticism (β = 0.07, SE = 0.06, p = 0.023) and sense of coherence (β = 0.47, SE = 0.06, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that monks had better mental health but worse physical health compared to the general Greek male population. More studies are required to validate the above findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Merakou
- Department of Public & Administrative Health, National School Of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Ave., 115 21, Athens, Greece.
| | - E Kyklou
- General University Hospital of Larisa, 413 34, Larisa, Greece
| | - E Antoniadou
- Department of Public & Administrative Health, National School Of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Ave., 115 21, Athens, Greece
| | - D Theodoridis
- General Hospital of Athens "Sotiria", 152, Mesogeion Ave, 115 21, Athens, Greece
| | - E Doufexis
- Simonos Petras Monastery, Mt Athos, Dafni, Greece
| | - A Barbouni
- Department of Public & Administrative Health, National School Of Public Health, 196 Alexandras Ave., 115 21, Athens, Greece
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