Abstract
The current plethora of research supporting the positive effects of various meditative techniques on human physiology and specifically brain function now places the utilization of meditation in the treatment of psychiatric conditions into the realms of evidence based medicine. Despite this there is a significant lag amongst clinicians in exploring, training or in or utilizing meditation in clinical practice.
The presenter will introduce a general overview of meditative techniques, more specifically divided into techniques aimed at developing concentration, awareness and specific emotional states like compassion or loving-kindness. Then from the perspective of her own practice and informed by Buddhist and eastern paradigms of the mind the techniques were originally sourced from, she will present a model for utilization in everyday psychiatry and in the development of overall health.
This will include the indications for specific techniques and also less often discussed the relative contraindications as well as the appropriate timing in the rehabilitation of any specific patient. In this respect the presenter hopes to provide a model for seamlessly integrating meditative technology into the psychiatric clinical armamentarium, both as adjunctive and/or primary treatment modalities with logical prescriptive and dose related aspects. The aim of this is to ultimately improve clinical outcomes with a cost effective and utilitarian treatment modality.
