Meditation

Integrative Medicine
Developing Your Personal Care Plan
Integrative Medicine at Home Membership Program
Therapies, Classes & Workshops
About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products
About Mind-Body Therapies
Our Research & Clinical Trials
Multimedia

Meditation

Share
Share
Meditation

Common Names

  • Mindfulness
  • MBSR
  • Lovingkindness
  • Metta
  • Focused attention

Jump to:

For Patients & Caregivers

Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements you’re taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.

What Is It

Meditation has been practiced for ages in many traditions around the world. It is often described as a state in which the practitioner is relaxed but focused and alert.

Most meditation practices include key features like attention to breathing, letting go of judgements, and developing awareness. Common goals include inner calmness, relaxation, psychological balance, and improved vitality and coping. The most researched form of meditation is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), typically offered as an 8-week program.

Both the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO) recommend meditation as part of a multidisciplinary approach to reduce stress, depression, and mood disturbance, and to improve the quality of life in cancer patients. The American Heart Association also recommends meditation as a lifestyle tool to help reduce heart disease risk.

How It Works

The most researched form of meditation is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). It is typically offered as an 8-week program and uses sitting meditation, a sensing practice called body scan to reestablish the connection of mind to body and breath, and walking meditation to apply these practices in moving form.

MBSR can help reduce distress, fatigue, and pain. It improves mental functioning, mood, and well-being, including in cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Meditation may also help reduce blood pressure and heart disease risks, and can also benefit children, helping to improve self-confidence and coping skills.

Repeated practice and patience are important mechanisms to allow for optimal benefits.

Purported uses and benefits
  • Anxiety
    Several studies show that meditation reduces anxiety associated with many diseases including cancer.
  • Cognitive impairment
    MBSR practice resulted in improvements in cognitive impairment resulting from cancer and its treatments.
  • Depression
    Many clinical trials indicate that MBSR can help reduce depression.
  • Fatigue
    Studies in breast cancer survivors show that MBSR practice decreases fatigue severity.
  • Insomnia
    MBSR may help relieve insomnia and improve sleep quality.
  • Lifestyle modification
    Meditation practice may help support making lifestyle changes or modifying behaviors.
  • Mood disturbance
    MBSR practice helps improve mood disturbance in patients including those with cancer.
  • Pain
    A few studies indicate that MBSR is useful in relieving chronic pain. Larger trials are needed.
Special Point

It is important to note that regular meditation practice is essential for continued benefits.

Is It Safe

Meditation is generally considered safe, and few cases of adverse effects have been reported. Various medical panels have endorsed meditation as a useful lifestyle tool, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Society of Integrative Oncology, and the American Heart Association.

Who Can Provide this Service

Practitioners who teach MBSR go through a certification process. They may also have specific training and experience with certain patient populations, such as cardiac or cancer patients.

Where Can I Get Treatment

Meditation classes are offered in communities, at hospitals, and at universities. Cancer centers across the country also offer programs that are led by experienced teachers.

MSK offers free meditations online and with our Integrative Medicine at Home program. Both offer an opportunity to try guided meditations geared towards concerns relevant to cancer patients.

Back to top

For Healthcare Professionals

Clinical Summary

Meditation has been practiced for millennia in many traditions around the world. It is defined as “a wakeful hypo-metabolic physiologic state” (1) in which the practitioner is relaxed but focused and alert.

In addition to developing attention, most formats include regulated breathing and developing nonjudgmental awareness. Common goals include inner calmness, physical relaxation, psychological balance, and improved vitality and coping. The most researched form of meditation is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), typically offered as an 8-week program.

Meditation can help reduce

  • Anxiety, stress
  • Pain
  • Fatigue

It can also help improve

  • Coping skills
  • Well-being
  • Awareness
  • Cognition

Oncology guidelines recommend meditation
Both the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (63) and Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO) (24) (50) recommend meditation for anxiety, stress reduction, depression, mood disturbance, and improved quality of life in cancer patients. In addition, the American Heart Association added meditation to intervention guidelines to possibly reduce risk of heart disease (51).

Improved psychological symptoms and functioning
Many studies (6) (10) (13) (15) (16) (17) (18) (20) (21) (22) (47) (48) (59) (65) (66) (70) (71) (72) (74) (76) (77) (83) show that mindfulness and other forms of meditation can boost positive emotions and significantly reduce stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. In one of the largest long-term studies of distressed breast cancer survivors, Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery was superior to supportive expressive group therapy, with benefits lasting over one year (46). There is also modest evidence for its use among people of color (84).

Meditation and mindfulness interventions may reduce blood pressure (85), optimize immune function, and reduce levels of various stress biomarkers including cortisol and IL6 (49) (67) (68). Other data suggest meditation can improve coping (23), cognition (18) (19) (78) (86), and psychological functioning (13) (14).

Virtual mindfulness-based interventions have also shown benefit (81) (82) (87). MSK offers free meditations online and with our Integrative Medicine at Home program. Both offer an opportunity to try guided meditations geared towards concerns relevant to cancer patients.

Mixed or lacking evidence for other conditions
Mindfulness-based interventions may help support behavior change (11) (45) (61) (62) and improve sleep quality (15) (54), but meta-analyses found inconclusive evidence for benefit in substance use disorders or for sleep parameters in cancer survivors (79) (80). Another study did not find benefit with MBSR for chronic neuropathic pain (88).

Purported uses and benefits
  • Anxiety
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Pain
Mechanism of Action

Meditation may affect changes in structural and functional aspects of the brain involved in regulating attention, emotion, and self-awareness (25) (28). MRI studies suggest various techniques correlate with behavioral improvements in attention, compassion, and cognitive perspective-taking: mindfulness or presence training increased cortical thickness in prefrontal regions; loving kindness or metta (affect) meditation induced plasticity in frontoinsular regions; and observing-thoughts or perspective meditation induced changes in inferior frontal and lateral temporal cortices (44).

Stress reduction effects have been attributed to acceptance training (64). Mindful breathing enhanced “decentering” from internal experiences, and reduced reactivity to repetitive thoughts (34). Improved self-control, emotion regulation, and stress reduction in smokers who practiced meditation were attributed to increased activity in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), adjacent prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and other brain areas, as ACC/mPFC activity is diminished in smokers (29).

Mindfulness meditation significantly reduced neural activation in brain regions crucial for controlling nociceptive information (30). It is also associated with changes in learning and memory processes, perspective taking, and self-referential processing (31). In patients with generalized anxiety disorder, improvements were attributed to fronto-limbic regulation (32). MBSR also produced entrainment of chaotic activities in the brain and heart (33).

Immune system benefits may include reduced ratios of T1 pro-inflammatory to T2 anti-inflammatory lymphocytes (35). Increases in telomerase activity, a known marker of cellular aging and psychological risk, and reduced NFκB activity, a precursor to increased proinflammatory cytokines and circulating levels of C-reactive protein have been observed (36) (37) .

Adverse Reactions

Meditation is generally considered safe and effective, and few side effects have been reported. However, individuals who have experienced past traumas or abuse may respond negatively to some forms of meditation. Appropriate confidential screening may be needed to determine suitability of particular meditation practices in certain populations (52). In one survey, unwanted effects were transitory, and occurred more with focused attention meditation, when practicing longer than 20 minutes, and while being alone (53).

Case Reports
Psychosis: Following meditation (38) (39) and qigong practice (40) but some of these events occurred in concert with other issues including sleep loss, drug withdrawal, or pre-existing psychotic disorders.
Acute psychosis: In patients with schizophrenia after intensive meditation (41).
Qigong deviation syndrome: In patients following inappropriate qigong training, psychophysiological effects such as changes in heart rate, illusions, and pseudohallucinations (42).
Epilepsy: In a young woman after meditation (43).

Practitioners and Treatments

Practitioners who teach mindfulness-based stress reduction go through a certification process. They may also have specific training and experience with certain patient populations, such as cardiac or cancer patients.

Meditation classes are offered in communities, at hospitals, and at universities. Cancer centers across the country also offer programs that are led by experienced teachers. 

MSK offers free meditations online and with our Integrative Medicine at Home program. Both offer an opportunity to try guided meditations geared towards concerns relevant to cancer patients.

Dosage (OneMSK Only)
References
  1. Wallace RK, Benson H, Wilson AF. A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state. Am J Physiol. Sep 1971;221(3):795-799.
  2. Clarke TC BL, Stussman BJ, et al. Trends in the use of complementary health approaches among adults: United States, 2002-2012. Natl Health Stat Report. 2015 Feb 10;(79):1-16.
  3. Zeidan F, Vago DR. Mindfulness meditation-based pain relief: a mechanistic account. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Jun 2016;1373(1):114-127.
  4. Martires J, Zeidler M. The value of mindfulness meditation in the treatment of insomnia. Curr Opin Pulm Med. Nov 2015;21(6):547-552.
  5. Ong JC, Manber R, Segal Z, Xia Y, Shapiro S, Wyatt JK. A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for chronic insomnia. Sleep. Sep 2014;37(9):1553-1563.
  6. Abbott RA, Whear R, Rodgers LR, et al. Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness based cognitive therapy in vascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. J Psychosom Res. May 2014;76(5):341-351.
  7. Parswani MJ, Sharma MP, Iyengar S. Mindfulness-based stress reduction program in coronary heart disease: A randomized control trial. Int J Yoga. Jul 2013;6(2):111-117.
  8. Hartmann M, Kopf S, Kircher C, et al. Sustained effects of a mindfulness-based stress-reduction intervention in type 2 diabetic patients: design and first results of a randomized controlled trial (the Heidelberger Diabetes and Stress-study). Diabetes Care. May 2012;35(5):945-947.
  9. Zernicke KA, Campbell TS, Blustein PK, et al. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a randomized wait-list controlled trial. Int J Behav Med. Sep 2013;20(3):385-396.
  10. Carmody JF, Crawford S, Salmoirago-Blotcher E, Leung K, Churchill L, Olendzki N. Mindfulness training for coping with hot flashes: results of a randomized trial. Menopause. Jun 2011;18(6):611-620.
  11. Davis JM, Fleming MF, Bonus KA, Baker TB. A pilot study on mindfulness based stress reduction for smokers. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2007;7:2.
  12. Carlson LE. Mindfulness-based interventions for physical conditions: a narrative review evaluating levels of evidence. ISRN Psychiatry. 2012;2012:651583.
  13. Garland SN, Tamagawa R, Todd SC, Speca M, Carlson LE. Increased mindfulness is related to improved stress and mood following participation in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program in individuals with cancer. Integr Cancer Ther. Jan 2013;12(1):31-40.
  14. Birnie K, Garland SN, Carlson LE. Psychological benefits for cancer patients and their partners participating in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Psychooncology. Sep 2010;19(9):1004-1009.
  15. Wurtzen H, Dalton SO, Elsass P, et al. Mindfulness significantly reduces self-reported levels of anxiety and depression: results of a randomised controlled trial among 336 Danish women treated for stage I-III breast cancer. Eur J Cancer. Apr 2013;49(6):1365-1373.
  16. Hoffman CJ, Ersser SJ, Hopkinson JB, Nicholls PG, Harrington JE, Thomas PW. Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction in mood, breast- and endocrine-related quality of life, and well-being in stage 0 to III breast cancer: a randomized, controlled trial. J Clin Oncol. Apr 20 2012;30(12):1335-1342.
  17. Lengacher CA, Reich RR, Paterson CL, et al. Examination of Broad Symptom Improvement Resulting From Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34:2827-2834.
  18. Johns SA, Von Ah D, Brown LF, et al. Randomized controlled pilot trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast and colorectal cancer survivors: effects on cancer-related cognitive impairment. J Cancer Surviv. Jun 2016;10(3):437-448.
  19. Milbury K, Chaoul A, Biegler K, et al. Tibetan sound meditation for cognitive dysfunction: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial. Psychooncology. Oct 2013;22(10):2354-2363.
  20. Carlson LE, Doll R, Stephen J, et al. Randomized controlled trial of Mindfulness-based cancer recovery versus supportive expressive group therapy for distressed survivors of breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. Sep 1 2013;31(25):3119-3126.
  21. Zernicke KA, Campbell TS, Speca M, McCabe-Ruff K, Flowers S, Carlson LE. A randomized wait-list controlled trial of feasibility and efficacy of an online mindfulness-based cancer recovery program: the eTherapy for cancer applying mindfulness trial. Psychosom Med. May 2014;76(4):257-267.
  22. Ahmed M, Modak S, Sequeira S. Acute pain relief after Mantram meditation in children with neuroblastoma undergoing anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody therapy. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. Mar 2014;36(2):152-155.
  23. Kanitz JL, Camus ME, Seifert G. Keeping the balance—an overview of mind-body therapies in pediatric oncology. Complement Ther Med. Apr 2013;21 Suppl 1:S20-25.
  24. Greenlee H, Balneaves LG, Carlson LE, et al. Clinical practice guidelines on the use of integrative therapies as supportive care in patients treated for breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. Nov 2014;2014(50):346-358.
  25. Tang YY, Holzel BK, Posner MI. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nat Rev Neurosci. Apr 2015;16(4):213-225.
  26. Fox KC, Nijeboer S, Dixon ML, et al. Is meditation associated with altered brain structure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of morphometric neuroimaging in meditation practitioners. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. Jun 2014;43:48-73.
  27. Tomasino B, Fregona S, Skrap M, Fabbro F. Meditation-related activations are modulated by the practices needed to obtain it and by the expertise: an ALE meta-analysis study. Front Hum Neurosci. 2012;6:346.
  28. Gotink RA, Meijboom R, Vernooij MW, Smits M, Hunink MG. 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction induces brain changes similar to traditional long-term meditation practice - A systematic review. Brain Cogn. Jul 15 2016;108:32-41.
  29. Tang YY, Tang R, Posner MI. Mindfulness meditation improves emotion regulation and reduces drug abuse. Drug Alcohol Depend. Jun 1 2016;163 Suppl 1:S13-18.
  30. Zeidan F, Martucci KT, Kraft RA, Gordon NS, McHaffie JG, Coghill RC. Brain mechanisms supporting the modulation of pain by mindfulness meditation. J Neurosci. Apr 6 2011;31(14):5540-5548.
  31. Holzel BK, Lazar SW, Gard T, Schuman-Olivier Z, Vago DR, Ott U. How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective. Perspect Psychol Sci. Nov 2011;6(6):537-559.
  32. Holzel BK, Hoge EA, Greve DN, et al. Neural mechanisms of symptom improvements in generalized anxiety disorder following mindfulness training. Neuroimage Clin. 2013;2:448-458.
  33. Gao J, Fan J, Wu BW, et al. Entrainment of chaotic activities in brain and heart during MBSR mindfulness training. Neurosci Lett. Mar 11 2016;616:218-223.
  34. Feldman G, Greeson J, Senville J. Differential effects of mindful breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and loving-kindness meditation on decentering and negative reactions to repetitive thoughts. Behav Res Ther. Oct 2010;48(10):1002-1011.
  35. Carlson LE, Speca M, Patel KD, Goodey E. Mindfulness-based stress reduction in relation to quality of life, mood, symptoms of stress, and immune parameters in breast and prostate cancer outpatients. Psychosom Med. Jul-Aug 2003;65(4):571-581.
  36. Lengacher CA, Reich RR, Kip KE, et al. Influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on telomerase activity in women with breast cancer (BC). Biol Res Nurs. Oct 2014;16(4):438-447.
  37. Black DS, Slavich GM. Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Ann N Y Acad Sci. Jun 2016;1373(1):13-24.
  38. Kuijpers HJ, van der Heijden FM, Tuinier S, Verhoeven WM. Meditation-induced psychosis. Psychopathology. 2007;40(6):461-464.
  39. Chan-Ob T, Boonyanaruthee V. Meditation in association with psychosis. J Med Assoc Thai. Sep 1999;82(9):925-930.
  40. Hwang WC. Qi-gong psychotic reaction in a Chinese American woman. Cult Med Psychiatry. Dec 2007;31(4):547-560.
  41. Walsh R, Roche L. Precipitation of acute psychotic episodes by intensive meditation in individuals with a history of schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. Aug 1979;136(8):1085-1086.
  42. Xu SH. Psychophysiological reactions associated with qigong therapy. Chin Med J (Engl). Mar 1994;107(3):230-233.
  43. St Louis EK, Lansky EP. Meditation and epilepsy: a still hung jury. Med Hypotheses. 2006;67(2):247-250.
  44. Valk SL, Bernhardt BC, Trautwein FM, et al. Structural plasticity of the social brain: Differential change after socio-affective and cognitive mental training. Sci Adv. Oct 2017;3(10):e1700489.
  45. Kamboj SK, Irez D, Serfaty S, et al. Ultra-Brief Mindfulness Training Reduces Alcohol Consumption in At-Risk Drinkers: A Randomized Double-Blind Active-Controlled Experiment. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017 Nov 1;20(11):936-947
  46. Carlson LE, Tamagawa R, Stephen J, et al. Randomized-controlled trial of mindfulness-based cancer recovery versus supportive expressive group therapy among distressed breast cancer survivors (MINDSET): long-term follow-up results. Psychooncology. Jul 2016;25(7):750-759.
  47. Soo MS, Jarosz JA, Wren AA, et al. Imaging-Guided Core-Needle Breast Biopsy: Impact of Meditation and Music Interventions on Patient Anxiety, Pain, and Fatigue. J Am Coll Radiol. May 2016;13(5):526-534.
  48. Boxleitner G, Jolie S, Shaffer D, et al. Comparison of Two Types of Meditation on Patients’ Psychosocial Responses During Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer. J Altern Complement Med. May 2017;23(5):355-361.
  49. Black DS, Peng C, Sleight AG, et al. Mindfulness practice reduces cortisol blunting during chemotherapy: A randomized controlled study of colorectal cancer patients. Cancer. Aug 15 2017;123(16):3088-3096.
  50. Greenlee H, DuPont-Reyes MJ, Balneaves LG, et al. Clinical practice guidelines on the evidence-based use of integrative therapies during and after breast cancer treatment. CA Cancer J Clin. May 06 2017;67(3):194-232.
  51. Levine GN, Lange RA, Bairey-Merz CN, et al. Meditation and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. J Am Heart Assoc. Sep 28 2017;6(10).
  52. Lindahl JR, Fisher NE, Cooper DJ, et al. The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists. PLoS One. 2017;12(5):e0176239.
  53. Cebolla A, Demarzo M, Martins P, et al. Unwanted effects: Is there a negative side of meditation? A multicentre survey. PLoS One. 2017;12(9):e0183137.
  54. Andersen SR, Würtzen H, Steding-Jessen M, et al. Effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep quality: results of a randomized trial among Danish breast cancer patients. Acta Oncol.2013 Feb;52(2):336-44.
  55. Zimmermann FF, Burrell B, Jordan J. The acceptability and potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in improving psychological well-being for adults with advanced cancer: A systematic review. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 Feb;30:68-78.
  56. Christodoulou G, Black DS. Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Sleep Among Cancer Survivors: a Critical Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Curr Oncol Rep. 2017 Sep;19(9):60.
  57. Latorraca COC, Martimbianco ALC, Pachito DV, Pacheco RL, Riera R. Mindfulness for palliative care patients. Systematic review.Int J Clin Pract. 2017 Dec;71(12).
  58. Haller H, Winkler MM, Klose P, Dobos G, Kümmel S, Cramer H. Mindfulness-based interventions for women with breast cancer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Oncol. 2017 Dec;56(12):1665-1676.
  59. Henderson VP, Clemow L, Massion AO, Hurley TG, Druker S, Hébert JR. The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychosocial outcomes and quality of life in early-stage breast cancer patients: a randomized trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2012 Jan;131(1):99-109.
  60. Van Dam NT, van Vugt MK, Vago DR, et al. Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2018 Jan;13(1):36-61.
  61. Carriere K, Khoury B, Gunak MM, et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for weight loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. Feb 2018;19(2):164-177.
  62. Goldberg SB, Tucker RP, Greene PA, et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev. Feb 2018;59:52-60.
  63. Lyman GH, Greenlee H, Bohlke K, et al. Integrative Therapies During and After Breast Cancer Treatment: ASCO Endorsement of the SIO Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol. Jun 11 2018:Jco2018792721.
  64. Lindsay EK, Young S, Smyth JM, et al. Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology. Jan 2018;87:63-73.
  65. Lindsay EK, Chin B, Greco CM, et al. How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2018 Dec;115(6):944-973.
  66. Dunne PJ, Lynch J, Prihodova L, et al. Burnout in the emergency department: Randomized controlled trial of an attention-based training program. J Integr Med. 2019 May;17(3):173-180.
  67. Witek Janusek L, Tell D, Mathews HL. Mindfulness based stress reduction provides psychological benefit and restores immune function of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: A randomized trial with active control. Brain Behav Immun. 2019 Aug;80:358-373.
  68. Lengacher CA, Reich RR, Paterson CL, et al. A Large Randomized Trial: Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Breast Cancer (BC) Survivors on Salivary Cortisol and IL-6. Biol Res Nurs. 2019 Jan;21(1):39-49.
  69. McClintock AS, McCarrick SM, Garland EL, Zeidan F, Zgierska AE. Brief Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Acute and Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review. J Altern Complement Med. 2019 Mar;25(3):265-278.
  70. Xunlin NG, Lau Y, Klainin-Yobas P. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions among cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer. 2020 Apr;28(4):1563-1578.
  71. Schell LK, Monsef I, Wöckel A, Skoetz N. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Mar 27;3(3):CD011518.
  72. Ratcliff CG, Prinsloo S, Chaoul A, et al. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Mindfulness Meditation for Women Undergoing Stereotactic Breast Biopsy.  J Am Coll Radiol. 2019 May;16(5):691-699.
  73. Galantino ML, Tiger R, Brooks J, Jang S, Wilson K. Impact of Somatic Yoga and Meditation on Fall Risk, Function, and Quality of Life for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Syndrome in Cancer Survivors. Integr Cancer Ther. 2019 Jan-Dec;18:1534735419850627.
  74. de Vibe M, Solhaug I, Rosenvinge JH, et al. Six-year positive effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on mindfulness, coping and well-being in medical and psychology students; Results from a randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0196053.
  75. Gaylord SA, Palsson OS, Garland EL, et al. Mindfulness training reduces the severity of irritable bowel syndrome in women: results of a randomized controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol. Sep 2011;106(9):1678-1688.
  76. Garland EL, Brintz CE, Hanley AW, et al. Mind-Body Therapies for Opioid-Treated Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med. Nov 4 2019;180(1):91-105.
  77. Garland EL, Baker AK, Larsen P, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Mindfulness Training and Hypnotic Suggestion for Acute Pain Relief in the Hospital Setting. J Gen Intern Med. Oct 2017;32(10):1106-1113.
  78. Yu J, Rawtaer I, Feng L, et al. Mindfulness intervention for mild cognitive impairment led to attention-related improvements and neuroplastic changes: Results from a 9-month randomized control trial. J Psychiatr Res. Mar 2021;135:203-211.
  79. Goldberg SB, Pace B, Griskaitis M, et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for substance use disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Oct 20 2021;10(10):Cd011723.
  80. Suh HW, Jeong HY, Hong S, et al. The mindfulness-based stress reduction program for improving sleep quality in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. Mar 2021;57:102667.
  81. Milbury K, Li Y, Durrani S, et al. A Mindfulness-Based Intervention as a Supportive Care Strategy for Patients with Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Their Spouses: Results of a Three-Arm Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Oncologist. Nov 2020;25(11):e1794-e1802.
  82. Price-Blackshear MA, Pratscher SD, Oyler DL, et al. Online couples mindfulness-based intervention for young breast cancer survivors and their partners: A randomized-control trial. J Psychosoc Oncol. Sep-Oct 2020;38(5):592-611.
  83. Chayadi E, Baes N, Kiropoulos L. The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cancer-related fatigue in oncology patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022;17(7):e0269519.
  84. Sun S, Goldberg SB, Loucks EB, et al. Mindfulness-based interventions among people of color: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychother Res. Mar 2022;32(3):277-290.
  85. Fu J, Liu Y, Zhang L, et al. Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Reducing Blood Pressure in Adults With Prehypertension to Established Hypertension. J Am Heart Assoc. Oct 20 2020;9(19):e016804.
  86. Duval A, Davis CG, Khoo EL, et al. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive function among breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Cancer. Jul 1 2022;128(13):2520-2528.
  87. Telke S, Leininger B, Hanson L, et al. A Randomized Trial of 21 Days of Loving Kindness Meditation for Stress Reduction and Emotional Well-being Within an Online Health Community for Patients, Family, and Friends Experiencing a Cancer Health Journey. J Integr Complement Med. Feb 2022;28(2):158-167.
  88. Shergill Y, Rice DB, Khoo EL, et al. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Breast Cancer Survivors with Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pain Res Manag. 2022;2022:4020550.
Back to top
Email your questions and comments to [email protected].

Last Updated

Learn why you should choose MSK.
Read about our care
Our network of regional centers brings our expert care closer to you
Explore locations