The effects of meditation on women with rheumatoid arthritis
Date
1993
Authors
Kjellander, Phyllis Diane
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This research was designed to measure whether or not meditation would reduce the pain of subjects suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. A single subject, removal-of-contingency design was used. Five women with progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis were taught a simple mantra meditation and instructed to meditate for 20 minutes, twice a day. The subjects' pain level was measured three times a week for a period of nine weeks using both the Electronic Dolorimeter and a Visual Analogue Scale. A week of baseline was followed by four weeks of meditation; the subjects were then asked to quit meditating for two weeks following which they returned to meditation for the final two weeks of the study. On the last day of the study the subjects completed a self-report questionnaire. For several of the subjects there was a slight trend towards a lessening of pain with the meditation. The final questionnaire showed an overall very positive subjective experience to the meditation. All subjects reported finding meditation an enjoyable, relaxing, stress-reducing experience. They also reported an increase in their overall sense of personal well-being.