Abstract

ALFONSI, José; CONDE, Erick  and  TRONCOSO, Ana. The therapeutic use of meditative practices in stress: methodological and investigative aspects. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.2, pp.603-619.  Epub Aug 31, 2021. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/21psd220224.

The therapeutic use of meditative practices on the stress’ effects is recognized for its efficiency with a long history of scientific investigation. In this field, the Eastern traditions stand out, with a wide range of existing techniques, on which different research metodologies have been adopted to investigate the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms and the on stress’ effects and associated clinical conditions. This systematic review aims to identify the main characteristics of the investigative and methodological context regarding the use of cortisol measures to assess the therapeutic effects of meditative practices on stress. The survey was conducted using the PubMed and Web of Science platforms, with adaptation to the PRISMA protocol guidelines. Studies that used cortisol as the main biological marker of stress were included. A total of 52 articles were organized according to the main methodological characteristics identified in the review. The results were organized and discussed considering the main experimental design observed such short-term interventional studies; longitudinal researches for clinical and non-clinical population and cross-sectional comparisons between advanced meditators with a control group or beginners.

Keywords : meditation; mindfulness; yoga; stress; cortisol.

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