The Effects of Mind-Body Interventions on Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Study Objectives. To evaluate the effect of mind-body interventions (MBI) on sleep. Methods. We reviewed randomized controlled MBI trials on adults (through 2013) with at least one sleep outcome measure. We searched eleven electronic databases and excluded studies on interventions not considering mind-body medicine. Studies were categorized by type of MBI, whether sleep was primary or secondary outcome measure and outcome type. Results. 1323 abstracts were screened, and 112 papers were included. Overall, 67 (60%) of studies reported a beneficial effect on at least one sleep outcome measure. Of the most common interventions, 13/23 studies using meditation, 21/30 using movement MBI, and 14/25 using relaxation reported at least some improvements in sleep. There were clear risks of bias for many studies reviewed, especially when sleep was not the main focus. Conclusions. MBI should be considered as a treatment option for patients with sleep disturbance. The benefit of MBI needs to be better documented with objective outcomes as well as the mechanism of benefit elucidated. There is some evidence that MBI have a positive benefit on sleep quality. Since sleep has a direct impact on many other health outcomes, future MBI trials should consider including sleep outcome measurements.

Meditation in Stressed Older Adults: Improvements in Self-Rated Mental Health Not Paralleled by Improvements in Cognitive Function or Physiological Measures

“…The SF-36 Vitality subscore has also improved from a different mind-body intervention, yoga, in healthy older adults (Oken et al, 2006) and in people with multiple sclerosis (Oken et al, 2004). One self-report measure that did not improve was subjective sleep quality (PSQI), even though there is some evidence that mind-body medicine may improve sleep (Neuendorf, Wahbeh, Chamine, et al, 2015). While our study participants were not recruited for sleep problems, their average PSQI score at baseline was 8.4 (scores of 5 and above are considered “poor sleep quality”).…”

“…The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Buysse, Reynolds, Monk, Berman, & Kupfer, 1989) was administered because mind-body therapies improve sleep function (Neuendorf, Wahbeh, Chaime, et al, 2015) and may mediate stress effects on cognition (Oken, Fonareva, & Wahbeh, 2011a). …”

“…About 25% of surveyed American adults reported high stress, and 50% reported a major stressful event over the past year (NPR, Foundation, & Health, 2014). Chronic psychological stress has multiple effects on physiological systems (McEwen, 1998; Oken, Chamine, & Wakeland, 2015) and contributes to a broad range of diseases. Importantly, chronic psychological stress and excessive reactivity to stressors contributes to age-related cognitive decline, hippocampal injury, and neurodegenerative diseases, either directly or through stress mediators (Esch, Stefano, Fricchione, & Benson, 2002; Lupien et al, 1999; McEwen, 1998; Oken, Fonareva, & Wahbeh, 2011b; Stawski, Sliwinski, & Smyth, 2006).…”

Prevalence, patterns, and predictors of meditation use among US adults: A nationally representative survey

“…For instance, studies have shown that meditation may be a useful adjunct to the treatment of mental health problems, particularly mood and anxiety disorders234. Evidence also suggests benefits of meditation for people suffering from physical conditions, including hypertension5, insomnia6, irritable bowel syndrome7 and symptoms related to epilepsy, premenstrual syndrome and menopause2. Importantly, meditation is considered to be a generally safe practice; while isolated reports suggest that meditation may aggravate some mental health problems8, the strength of this evidence is very low.…”

Complementary and Integrative Medicine for Neurologic Conditions

“…A systematic review found positive evidence to suggest benefit of mind-body therapies for sleep especially in the elderly. 55 Research is limited on meditation’s impact in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, but one small study showed that in adults with MCI, meditation positively impacted the regions of the brain most related to dementia. 56 Tai chi, a form of moving meditation, also has evidence for enhancing cognitive function, especially executive functioning, in older adults.…”