Mind-body therapies for menopausal symptoms: A systematic review

Innes, Kim E.; Selfe, Terry Kit; Vishnu, Abhishek

doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2010.01.016

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Volume 66, Issue 2 , Pages 135-149, June 2010

Mind-body therapies for menopausal symptoms: A systematic review

Kim E. Innes
- Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506-9190, United States
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, PO Box 800782, McLeod Hall, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0782, United States
- Corresponding author at: Dept. of Community Medicine, WVU School of Medicine, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. Tel.: +1 304 293 5206; fax: +1 304 293 2700.
Terry Kit Selfe
- Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506-9190, United States
- Center for the Study of Complementary and Alternative Therapies, University of Virginia Health System, PO Box 800782, McLeod Hall, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0782, United States
Abhishek Vishnu
- Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, PO Box 9190, Morgantown, WV 26506-9190, United States

Received 20 January 2010; accepted 23 January 2010. published online 08 February 2010.

Abstract

Objective

To systematically review the peer-reviewed literature regarding the effects of self-administered mind-body therapies on menopausal symptoms.

Methods

To identify qualifying studies, we searched 10 scientific databases and scanned bibliographies of relevant review papers and all identified articles. The methodological quality of all studies was assessed systematically using predefined criteria.

Results

Twenty-one papers representing 18 clinical trials from 6 countries met our inclusion criteria, including 12 randomized controlled trials (N=719), 1 non-randomized controlled trial (N=58), and 5 uncontrolled trials (N=105). Interventions included yoga and/or meditation-based programs, tai chi, and other relaxation practices, including muscle relaxation and breath-based techniques, relaxation response training, and low-frequency sound-wave therapy. Eight of the nine studies of yoga, tai chi, and meditation-based programs reported improvement in overall menopausal and vasomotor symptoms; six of seven trials indicated improvement in mood and sleep with yoga-based programs, and four studies reported reduced musculoskeletal pain. Results from the remaining nine trials suggest that breath-based and other relaxation therapies also show promise for alleviating vasomotor and other menopausal symptoms, although intergroup findings were mixed. Most studies reviewed suffered methodological or other limitations, complicating interpretation of findings.

Conclusions

Collectively, findings of these studies suggest that yoga-based and certain other mind-body therapies may be beneficial for alleviating specific menopausal symptoms. However, the limitations characterizing most studies hinder interpretation of findings and preclude firm conclusions regarding efficacy. Additional large, methodologically sound trials are needed to determine the effects of specific mind-body therapies on menopausal symptoms, examine long-term outcomes, and investigate underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: Mind-body therapies, Yoga, Meditation, Relaxation, Breathing, Tai chi, Menopause, Climacteric, Vasomotor