Dermatomyositis

Collins, M. P., & Dunn, L. F. (2005). The effects of meditation and visual imagery on an immune system disorder: Dermatomyositis. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 11(2), 275-284. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between a patient's "spontaneous recovery" from dermatomyositis and her practice of transcendental meditation and visual imagery without confounding effects of conventional therapies. The design was to study time-varying relationships between (1) measures of arm strength and skin condition (rash and pain) and (2) mindbody interventions-controlling for psychologic stress-in a patient with dermatomyositis, using regression analysis to determine half-lives of treatments and stress. Daily measurements were made of arm strength and skin condition over 294 days. Events producing psychologic stress were also rated using a numerical scale. The patient recovered, which is a low-probability event without conventional therapy. Regression analysis of time dependence between measures of rash, arm strength, and pain, and the application of meditation and visual imagery, revealed statistically significant relationships for both meditation (p values 0.02 to 0.001) and visual imagery (p values 0.02 to 0.002). Stress had a significant negative impact on skin symptoms but not arm strength. Beneficial effects of meditation had half-lives of 48-59 days for skin condition and no detectable decay for arm strength. Benefits of visual imagery were more transient (half-lives 4-18 days). The effects of stress on half-lives was only 1-3 days. It was concluded that the results demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between mind-body therapies and the patient's recovery from dermatomyositis, possibly mediated by influences of the humoral immune system. A key factor in the recovery was the slower decay rate of meditation and visual imagery compared to stress. Color photographs of the patient's hands are included. As dermatomyositis is a humorally mediated immune microvasculopathy, the benefits of meditation and imagery in their patient comport with a growing body of evidence showing that these techniques influence immune system function. Address for reprints: Michael P. Collins, M.D., Dept. of Neurosciences, Marshfield Clinic, 1000 North Oak Avenue, Marshfield, WI, 54449, USA. E-mail: collins.michael@marshfieldclinic.org

Copyright American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Jul 2005
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