COVER STORY: Research Update
A
pplying the simple practice of non-judgmental
present-moment awareness and experiencing
how this process influences one’s relationship with
life stressors is one way that meditation practice addresses the epidemic of afflictions that are
expressed physically, such as FM (Fortney et al.,
2010). According to Beck (1989), the practice of
meditation provides a tool that gives one a greater
sense of self-determination and the ability to cultivate and draw upon inner resources to help meet
life circumstances with more clarity.
A
large body of evidence, of varying quality, has
linked mindfulness to improvements in stress,
anxiety, and depressed mood (Astin, 1997; Jain
et al., 2007). Mindfulness has also been found to
be effective and promoting positive mood states
in patients with chronic health conditions such as
cancer (Carlson et al., 2003; & Ledesma, 2009).
Furthermore, data are emerging that support the
concept that mindfulness may ameliorate physiologic changes that accompany chronic mental
and emotional stress, including improving diurnal
cortisol secretion levels and anatomic changes in
brain regions associated with emotional regulation
(Matousek et al, 2010; & Chisa, 2010).
W
ith a growing interest in the clinical applications of mindfulness and mindfulness-based
approaches, a concomitant increase in attention
directed toward rigorous specified research in this
area is needed (Bishop et al., 2004). Specific