Mind-body intervention

Mind–body interventions is the name of a U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) classification that covers a variety of techniques intended by practitioners to enhance the mind's capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Many of these techniques are best described as alternative medicine, including meditation, prayer, healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music, or dance. Other interventions have now become mainstream (for example, patient support groups and cognitive-behavioral therapy).

From the point of view of scientific psychology many of these interventions remain to be evaluated.

Intervention during pregnancy and labour
Proponents claim a correlation between improved health during pregnancy and labour outcomes and the practice of meditation, yoga, relaxation techniques, massage, and hypnosis. These practices are claimed to have positive effects on both mother and fetus, though more research is needed to determine the amount of benefit produced.

Preliminary research has suggested that yoga sessions may help to alleviate both physical or perceived pain (depending on which trimester the intervention took place in).

Another study has suggested that meditation for two hours every week for eight weeks may reduce anxiety, negative affects, stress, and depression.

relaxation and guided imagery may result in a decrease in psychological tension, heart rate, skin conductance, respiration, cortisol levels, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia in the pregnant women.

An interview study from 1962 has suggested that hypnosis could reduce childbirth pain and improve memory of the event. A 2003 pilot study suggested hypnoses could provide natural pain relief for women in labor.

One study has shown a reduction in labor times by an average of three hours, less reported pain, and less medication as a result of massage. Massage during the first two phases of dilation seemed to reduce pain, although no difference was observed in the third phase.

List of mind–body intervention practices
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