title: Overview: clinical and physiological comparison of meditation with other self-control strategies.
abstract: In 1977 the American Psychiatric Association called for a critical examination of the clinical effectiveness of meditation. The author provides a review of the literature bearing on clinical and physiological comparisons of meditation with other self-control strategies. He begins by providing a definition of mediation and then cites the literature comparing mediation with such self-regulation strategies as biofeedback, hypnosis, and progressive relaxation. He pays particular attention to the "uniqueness" of mediation as a clinical intervention strategy a well as the adverse effects of meditation. Finally, he offers suggestions and guidelines for future research.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001143:Arousal; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012106:Research; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation