The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Objective Physiological Measures of Autonomic Function for Individuals With Medical Conditions: A Review of the Evidence.

A systematic review of ten studies examined whether mindfulness-based interventions improve autonomic nervous system function in people with medical conditions. Only oncology met the criteria for “possibly effective” based on clinical practice guidelines. Cardiac and chronic pain conditions showed some evidence of benefit in individual studies, but the overall level of evidence was insufficient to recommend MBIs for those groups. The review followed PRISMA protocols and used objective pre/post measures of autonomic function.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Autonomic dysregulation is common in many medical conditions and can have a widespread, negative impact on multiple bodily systems, leading to poorer health outcomes. Thus, addressing autonomic dysregulation as part of a comprehensive treatment plan is important. The goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of the physiological benefits of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for a population with medical conditions, using validated, objective measures of autonomic functioning. We conducted a review of the literature and followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocols. Studies were included if a) participants were diagnosed with a medical condition, b) an MBI was used, and c) objective pre/post measurements of autonomic nervous system function were collected. Medical conditions were included as a category for this review when a minimum of three articles met the criteria for inclusion. Ten articles met the criteria and included oncology, cardiac, and chronic pain conditions. Clinical recommendations were made based on the Clinical Practice Guideline Process Manual, 2017 Edition by the American Academy of Neurology. Based on level of evidence, only oncology met the criteria for "possibly effective." However, there was some evidence of the benefit of MBIs for all three medical conditions, based on individual study findings.