In a study published in the journal Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine (1998, 9(3):171-90) researchers discovered that patients who used mind/body medicine practices such as meditation tripled their chances of improvement over a 12 month period, compared to patients who did not use such practices. 

The study was conducted by William Collinge, Ph.D. and Ellen Raskin, M.A. of the Flowing River Institute in San Francisco, and Paul Yarnold, Ph.D., research professor of medicine at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. Seventy patients were randomly assigned to training and control groups. Those in the training group were taught mindfulness meditation and a Chinese form of mind/body healing called chi kung. To gauge improvement the researchers used the SF36, a standard health status survey used widely in medical outcome research. 

KEY FINDINGS 
Based on the data the researchers found they could predict with 90% accuracy which patients would report improvement in their health over 12 months and which would not. Surprisingly, the patient's duration of illness did not matter. Also, being in the training group did not by itself predict improvement since not all patients followed the recommendations. 

For the 15 patients in the sample who were the least severely ill, improvement was likely regardless of any other factors (87% reported improvement). For the remaining 45 patients, the three quarters of the sample who were the most severely ill, whether they improved was accurately predicted by how often they used a mind/body medicine practice. Those who used such a practice 3 or more days per week were 2.7 times as likely to report improvement at 12 months than were those who did not (65% versus 24%). 

Having good social ties seemed to bolster the benefits of regular practice. Patients who practiced 3 or more days per week and also had stronger social involvement in their lives were 3.6 times as likely to report improvement at 12 months (87% versus 24%). 

SIMILAR FINDINGS WITH OTHER DISEASES 
Research in mind/body medicine has shown powerful impact in other diseases as well. David Spiegel, M.D. at Stanford Medical School found that women with metastatic breast cancer doubled their survival time with the help of social support and mind/body medicine. Studies at UCLA Medical School have found improved survival rates in malignant melanoma (a form of skin cancer), as well as reduced symptoms in AIDS patients. Other studies have found similar benefits for heart disease and hypertension.

The results of this study are summarized in the model below. The degree of impairment, as reflected in the person's current level of role functioning, predicts the extent to which meditation practice is likely to alter the course of their health: 

CONCLUSIONS 
The researchers concluded that patients with CFS -- and particularly those who are most impaired in their roles at home or work -- should be strongly encouraged to adopt a daily mind/body medicine practice of their choice, and involve themselves in social support. 

The study was funded by a grant from the Stupski Family Fund to the Flowing River Institute, San Francisco. 

REFERENCE
Collinge W, Yarnold P, Raskin E. Use of mind/body self-healing practice predicts positive health transition in chronic fatigue syndrome: a controlled study. Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine, 1998, 9(3):171-90. 
 

For information about Dr. Collinge's four-CD audio program of inspirational talks and guided self-healing exercises that accompany this book, click here.