Meditation is becoming more popular in mainstream society as a means of decreasing stress and improving overall health. The authors of a recent analysis examined 47 studies to determine the effects of meditation on participants with a clinical condition, broadly defined as those with a psychiatric or physical condition and including stressed populations. Cohorts studied included patients who smoked and patients with alcoholism, other psychiatric disorders, chronic pain, or any of several medical conditions (such as heart disease, lung disease, breast cancer, diabetes, hypertension, or HIV infection). All studies were randomized controlled trials in which the control intervention was comparable (in terms of time and attention) to the meditation program. Most of the studies were conducted over a number of months, during which several hours of training were provided.

The data showed limited or insufficient evidence indicating any benefit from mantra meditation programs. Results from mindfulness programs showed moderate evidence of benefits: reduced anxiety, depression, and pain, as well as improvements in stress and mental health-associated quality of life. "Low" or insufficient evidence was seen to suggest positive effects of these programs on mood, attention, sleep, or weight or on health-related behaviors affected by stress (such as substance abuse). Compared with exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, and cognitive behavioral group therapy, meditation programs were no more effective, although that conclusion, too, was based on low or insufficient evidence.

The authors conclude that mindfulness meditation programs may help decrease anxiety, depression, and pain in certain populations; therefore, providers should discuss the modality with patients. They note that, although the analysis benefited from its use of randomized controlled trials, there were significant limitations to the research, including a lack of strong evidence supporting the conclusions and problems with the studies included in the analysis (such as nonstandardized training or key design characteristics not being reported). The authors suggest that further research is needed, focused particularly on trainer expertise and on the amount of time patients have spent practicing meditation and the level of skill they've acquired.

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