Mind-Body Studies

The Integrative Medicine and Health Research Program at Mayo Clinic studies the effectiveness and feasibility of using mind-body techniques to reduce anxiety before and during medical procedures, improve quality of life for patients and caregivers, and help people manage stress. Mind-body techniques can also complement conventional therapies for conditions such as major depression, sexual distress, spinal cord injuries or cancer.

Mind-body techniques focus on strengthening a harmonious connection between a patient's mind and body to maintain or improve health. Techniques include meditation, deep breathing, stress management and resiliency training, and music therapy.

Clinical trials

Clinical trials on using the mind-body connection to reduce stress and anxiety and promote health in the Integrative Medicine and Health Research Program at Mayo Clinic include:

  • Deep breathing for patients undergoing gynecological surgery. Natalie A. Laska, R.N., is the principal investigator in a study to test the effectiveness and feasibility of a paced deep-breathing module to reduce patients' anxiety before gynecological surgery. Learn more or enroll.
  • Improving quality of life and resilience for patients and caregivers. Led by Juliane Bingener-Casey, M.D., researchers are focused on patients who have pancreatic, esophageal, rectal or hepatic neoplastic disease, will undergo neoadjuvant therapy, and may require complex gastrointestinal surgery, and on their caregivers. The trial is an individualized pilot study to test the feasibility of improving quality of life and resilience for these groups. Learn more or enroll.
  • Mindfulness for patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. Led by Sandhya Pruthi, M.D., the Integrative Medicine and Health Research Program is studying patients who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and are planning to undergo surgical treatment. The trial evaluates how participants' quality of life, stress, fatigue and sleep are affected by wearing a novel brain-sensing headband. Learn more or enroll.
  • Music-assisted relaxation for patients with spinal cord injury. Dietlind Wahner-Roedler, M.D., leads a pilot study is to determine the feasibility of delivering a music-assisted-relaxation intervention to patients with spinal cord injury in the inpatient rehabilitation unit. The trial also focuses on whether the intervention has an effect on patients' anxiety and pain, as measured by surveys given before and after the intervention. Learn more or enroll.
  • Organization of the brain. Led by Clifford R. Jack, M.D., researchers are conducting an observational trial to assess and map the organization of the brain on a large scale. The goal of the project is to better understand the possibilities of effectively changing the brain without using pharmaceuticals. Learn more or enroll.
  • Stress management and resiliency for sexuality. Led by Stephanie S. Faubion, M.D., researchers are studying whether stress management and resiliency training, using mindfulness techniques in everyday life, is a feasible and effective treatment to increase sexual function in women who report sexual distress. Learn more or enroll.
  • Stress management and resiliency to treat major depression. Ashok Seshadri, M.D., is the principal investigator of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) therapy to augment treatment of diagnosed major depression. Learn more or enroll.
  • Stress management for patients with melanoma. Amer N. Kalaaji, M.D., leads an interventional study to test the effectiveness of a stress management therapy program in decreasing stress, increasing quality of life and improving the immune system in patients with melanoma. Learn more or enroll.
  • Stress management for wellness center participants. Led by health and wellness coach Bridget E. Berkland, NBC-HWC, the Integrative Medicine and Health Research Program studies how resiliency training impacts the ability to bounce back, perceived stress, anxiety levels, quality of life, health behaviors, mindfulness, gratitude, happiness and life satisfaction of people using the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, a wellness center for Mayo Clinic employees and their dependents. Learn more or enroll.
  • Stress management for women receiving cardiac care. Anjali Bhagra, M.D., is the principal investigator of a study evaluating the usefulness of a stress management and resilience training program (the Heart SMART Program) for women who report moderate to high levels of stress and who are receiving care at the Women's Heart and Preventive Cardiology clinics at Mayo Clinic. Learn more or enroll.
  • Stress management training for public school staff. Led by Brent A. Bauer, M.D., investigators are studying the outcomes of a Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) program among public school teachers. The team is also evaluating the feasibility of a blended in-person and online teaching approach for the SMART program. Learn more or enroll.
  • Wellness after breast cancer. Led by Daniela L. Stan, M.D., researchers are evaluating the feasibility and effect of a wellness coaching intervention on quality of life, weight and healthy lifestyle for patients who have survived breast cancer and are overweight. Learn more or enroll.