Treating and Preventing Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drug Abuse Through Transcendental Meditation:

Alexander, Corinne E.; Robinson, Pat; Rainforth, Maxwell

doi:10.1300/j020v11n01_02

Cited by 108 publications

(55 citation statements)

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“…Follow-up studies have documented the effectiveness of these technique. [90][91] Other religious practices (such as personal prayer, confession, forgiveness, exorcism, liturgy, blessings and altered states of consciousness); may also be effective, but more studies are necessary.…”

Section: -88mentioning

confidence: 99%

Religiousness and mental health: a review

Moreira‐Almeida

Neto

Koenig

2006

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

524

178

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Religiousness and mental health: a review Religiosidade e saúde mental: uma revisão A b s t r a c t Objective: The relationship between religiosity and mental health has been a perennial source of controversy. This paper reviews the scientific evidence available for the relationship between religion and mental health. Method: The authors present the main studies and conclusions of a larger systematic review of 850 studies on the religion-mental health relationship published during the 20 th Century identified through several databases. The present paper also includes an update on the papers published since 2000, including researches performed in Brazil and a brief historical and methodological background. Discussion: The majority of well-conducted studies found that higher levels of religious involvement are positively associated with indicators of psychological well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, and higher morale) and with less depression, suicidal thoughts and behavior, drug/alcohol use/abuse. Usually the positive impact of religious involvement on mental health is more robust among people under stressful circumstances (the elderly, and those with disability and medical illness). Theoretical pathways of the religiousness-mental health connection and clinical implications of these findings are also discussed. Conclusions: There is evidence that religious involvement is usually associated with better mental health. We need to improve our understanding of the mediating factors of this association and its use in clinical practice.Keywords: Mental health; Religion; Religion and Medicine; Religion and Psychology; Spirituality Resumo Objetivo: A relação entre religiosidade e saúde mental tem sido uma perene fonte de controvérsias. O presente artigo revisa a evidência científica disponível sobre a relação entre religião e saúde mental. Método: Os autores apresentam os principais estudos e as conclusões de uma revisão sistemática abrangente dos estudos sobre a relação religião-saúde mental. Utilizando-se de várias bases de dados, a revisão identificou 850 artigos publicados ao longo do século XX. O presente artigo também inclui uma breve contextualização histórica e metodológica, além de uma atualização com artigos publicados após 2000 e a descrição de pesquisas conduzidas no Brasil. Discussão: A ampla maioria dos estudos de boa qualidade encontrou que maiores níveis de envolvimento religioso estão associados positivamente a indicadores de bem estar psicológico (satisfação com a vida, felicidade, afeto positivo e moral mais elevado) e a menos depressão, pensamentos e comportamentos suicidas, uso/abuso de álcool/drogas. Habitualmente, o impacto positivo do envolvimento religioso na saúde mental é mais intenso entre pessoas sob estresse (idosos, e aqueles com deficiências e doenças clínicas). Mecanismos teóricos da conexão religiosidade-saúde mental e as implicações clínicas destes achados são discutidos. Conclusões: Há evidência suficiente disponível para se afirmar que o envolvimento religioso h...

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Section: -88mentioning

confidence: 99%

Religiousness and mental health: a review

Moreira‐Almeida

Neto

Koenig

2006

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

524

178

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“…Several researchers (Gelderloos et al, 1991;O'Connell, 1991;Alexander et al, 1994) have provided reviews and meta-analyses of the benefits of transcendental meditation (TM) in treating substance abuse. TM influences both psychological factors underlying addictive behaviors and the disposing physiological processes involved in maintaining addiction (Walton and Levitsky, 1994).…”

Section: Transcendental Meditation As Treatment Of Addictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It reviews the rationale for addressing addiction in the context of ASC (McPeake et al, 1991;Metzner, 1994;Miller, 1998a); presents principal aspects of the application of ethnomedical healing practices to substance abuse rehabilitation derived from cross-cultural reviews (Jilek, 1994;Heggenhougen, 1997); assesses some studies and meta-analyses that provided evidence of the effectiveness of an ASC (transcendental meditation) in substance abuse rehabilitation (Gelderloos et al, 1991;Alexander et al, 1994;O'Connell and Alexander, 1994;Walton and Levitsky, 1994); and summarizes material that illustrates the potential of shamanic therapies for addressing substance abuse (Lex and Schor, 1977;Miller, 1998a;Rioux, 1996;Smith, 1994Smith, , 2000Winkelman, 2000).…”

Section: Introduction: Culture Consciousness and Addictionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternative and traditional medicine approaches for substance abuse programs: a shamanic perspective

Winkelman

2001

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Analysis of the relationship of altered states of consciousness (ASC) to culture and human psychobiology provides guidance for new approaches for addressing substance abuse and dependence. While Western cultures have a long history of repressing ASC, cross-cultural research illustrates the ubiquitous human drive to alter consciousness and the near universality of institutionalized healing practices based on ASC. These may reflect adaptive mechanisms that do not operate in contemporary societies as they did in the human past. Effectiveness of ASC procedures in treating substance dependence is found in ethnomedical treatments of addiction, the addiction literature, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the physiological effects of shamanistic practices. A review of shamanic therapeutic mechanisms illustrates their applicability to addressing the psychodynamics of drug addiction. The utility of natural ASC practices to reduce substance dependence problems is illustrated by clinical research on the treatment of drug dependence through the use of meditative practice and models of their psychobiological dynamics. Shamanistic practices induce the relaxation response, enhance theta-wave production, and stimulate endogenous opioid and serotonergic mechanisms and their mood elevating effects. Directions of a shamanic based ASC therapy for drug dependence are suggested.

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“…Controlling for age produced significant results for TM on SBP when compared to PMR (p<.025) or HE (p<.0005), and for DBP, TM compared to PMR (p<.05) or HE (p<.00005). TM appears to be more efficacious for those who are not on medication, but also simultaneously decreases BP and use of anti-hypertension medication [120], and has been found to reduce the reliance on and desire for drugs in general [121]. A separate subgroup analyses by sex was published by Alexander et al suggested efficacy of TM for treating hypertension in patients in high as well as low risk categories for six hypertension-related measures of risk: obesity, alcohol use, psychosocial stress, dietary sodium-to-potassium ratio, physical inactivity, and presence of multiple risks [82].…”

Section: Impact On Hypertensionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, the physiological basis for craving is thought to decline, which is often accompanied by a decline in substance use [147]. A meta-analysis of 198 studies on behavioral techniques for reducing tobacco, alcohol, and drug consumption suggested that TM had substantially larger effect sizes in reducing harmful substance consumption than other techniques, including relaxation programs, therapeutic probation, pharmacological intervention, educational programs, and unconventional treatments (e.g., acupuncture) [121]. The TM studies also showed that patterns of abstinence were maintained for a longer time.…”

Section: Effects On Tobacco and Alcohol Usagementioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical and Pre-clinical Applications of the Transcendental Meditation Program® in the Prevention and Treatment of Essential Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in Youth and Adults

Barnes

Orme-Johnson²

2006

CHYR

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Acute and chronic environmental and psychosocial stress contributes to the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Stress reduction via Transcendental Meditation (TM)® has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) levels and reduce CVD risk in adults and adolescents. This article reviews recent findings indicating a beneficial BP-lowering impact of TM in hypertensive adults at rest and in pre-hypertensive adolescents at rest, during acute laboratory stress and during normal daily activity. These findings have important implications for inclusion of TM in efforts to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases and its clinical consequences.

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Treating and Preventing Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drug Abuse Through Transcendental Meditation:

Cited by 108 publications

References 0 publications

Religiousness and mental health: a review

Religiousness and mental health: a review

Alternative and traditional medicine approaches for substance abuse programs: a shamanic perspective

Clinical and Pre-clinical Applications of the Transcendental Meditation Program® in the Prevention and Treatment of Essential Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in Youth and Adults

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Treating and Preventing Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drug Abuse Through Transcendental Meditation:

Cited by 108 publications

References 0 publications

Religiousness and mental health: a review

Religiousness and mental health: a review

Alternative and traditional medicine approaches for substance abuse programs: a shamanic perspective

Clinical and Pre-clinical Applications of the Transcendental Meditation Program&#174; in the Prevention and Treatment of Essential Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in Youth and Adults

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Clinical and Pre-clinical Applications of the Transcendental Meditation Program® in the Prevention and Treatment of Essential Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in Youth and Adults