Dear Colleagues,

Hans Selye’s groundbreaking work on stress and disease became widely known in the 1950s. This led not only to more research on the nature of stress but also to knowledge of mechanisms linking stress and disease. Progress was great, especially beginning in the 1980s. Regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis was confirmed as important for effects of both acute and chronic stress. Furthermore, new evidence began to uphold a wider view of stress and its origins. The work of Bruce McEwen was critical, upholding the theory that “allostatic load”—that is, the loading (or overloading) of mechanisms mediating adaptation to stressors—leads to disease and aging. Another contribution was the concept of “societal stress”, representing another type of demand on adaptive mechanisms that can lead to poor individual and public health outcomes.

Along with these areas, studies began appearing on ways to intervene in the stress–disease relationship, especially how to reverse long-term damage due to stress. Among the early studies were the first investigations of the Transcendental Meditation technique starting in the 1970s. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had revived this technology from the ancient Vedic tradition in 1955, calling it “Transcendental Deep Meditation,” which he began teaching around the world. Today, this standardized technique is known as the Transcendental Meditation® technique, or TM®. Over 400 peer-reviewed reports, including a recent study of altered gene expression in 200 genes after long-term TM practice, have appeared. This study of gene expression found evidence for reversal of the “Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity” (CTRA) reported by others. Results of this study suggest reduced inflammation, improved defense response against microbes and cancer, and increased energy efficiency, consistent with reports from randomized trials on specific disease conditions.

Major illnesses or societal conditions showing evidence for prevention or reversal by TM® are affective disorders (especially anxiety and depression), cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (especially those involving the metabolism of glucose and fat), inflammation, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, homicides, and others—all major contributors to the public health burden.

This Special Issue of Medicina provides an opportunity for authors to present previously unpublished research on this topic. Original research, systematic reviews, and preliminary reports are all welcome, as is interdisciplinary research, for example, in the fields of sociology, biology, and medicine. I look forward to your submissions!

Dr. Kenneth G. Walton
Guest Editor

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• stress
• post-traumatic-stress-disorder
• allostatic load
• cardiovascular disease
• inflammation
• meditation
• public health
• homicides
• collective consciousness
• Maharishi Effect