Effects Of Meditation, Visual Imagery, And Stress On A Patient With Dermatomyositis

19 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2026 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Ohio State University Date Written: August 16, 2004 Objective: To evaluate the relationship between a patient's recovery from dermatomyositis without the use of conventional therapies and her practice of transcendental meditation and visual imagery. Design: Study of relationships between (1) measures of arm strength and skin condition (rash and pain) and (2) mind-body interventions across time-controlling for psychological stress-in a patient with dermatomyositis. Decay rates of treatments and stress were determined. Setting: Institutional referral center. Intervention: Transcendental meditation and visual imagery (no drugs). Outcome Measures: Daily measurements of arm strength and skin condition over 294 days. Events producing psychological stress were also rated using a numerical scale. Results: The patient recovered, which is a low-probability event without conventional therapy. Examination of the relationship between measures of arm strength, rash, and pain and application of mind-body treatments over time demonstrated a significant association between recovery and meditation and visual imagery. Stress had a negative impact on skin symptoms but not arm strength. Beneficial effects of meditation and visual imagery outlasted deleterious effects of stress by a considerable amount. Conclusions: Mind-body therapies were influential in this patient's recovery from dermatomyositis. A key factor in her recovery was the slower decay rate of meditation and visual imagery compared to stress. The benefits of meditation and imagery in this patient comport with a growing body of evidence that these techniques alter immune system function. Keywords: Transcendental Meditation, Visual Imagery, Dermatomyositis, Stress, Mind-Body Medicine, Humoral Immune System Declaration of Interest No personal or financial relationships influenced this study. Ethics Approval Written consent was given. Funder Statement No external funding to our university. Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation 1945 N. High Street Arps 410 Columbus, OH OH 43210 United States 1-614-292-8071 (Phone) 1-614-292-3906 (Fax) Human Health & Disease eJournal Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic Public Health eJournal Subscribe to this fee journal for more curated articles on this topic