Integration of evidence-based mind-body medicine: Methodological approaches and public health importance

The persistence of chronic disorders amidst the high-tech biomedical model, the growing interest in the role of consciousness in health and healing, and increasing public use of mind-body techniques underlie the need for well-designed and implemented research to evaluate the effectiveness, mechanisms and possibilities for integration of evidence-based mind-body therapies into the mainstream public health model. We posit that how such studies are conducted is equally as important as what is studied. Specifically, the use of mixed methodologies that combine quantitative, neuroscientific and epidemiologic approaches with qualitative studies could more thoroughly evaluate complex, dynamic, systems-based effects and emergent, “top-down” mind-body processes. Toward the goal of developing such a research agenda, we present a three-phased plan for research into mind-body approaches. The first phase would address the theoretical basis of consciousness and healing as a process within individuals, the second would survey current mind-body and spiritual practices and develop a research plan to assess their effectiveness, and the third would facilitate the transfer of known effective practices into health care systems. These goals would best be achieved through 1) dialogues involving neuroscience, clinical psychiatry, complementary/integrative medicine, ethics and public health studies; 2) a progressive series of research projects to identify objective measures and test current models; and 3) multi-disciplinary collaborations that enjoin sciences and the humanities within academic and other research institutions. The proposed approach has the capacity to create an academic and clinical care infrastructure that could integrate evidence-based mind-body practices in order to reach defined public health needs.