December 8, 2006

Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at MGH is established

Studies show that stress can have a significant effect not only on a person's sense of well-being, but also on overall health. Increasing evidence shows that mental stress can lead to cellular stress, which in turn lowers the threshold for developing certain illnesses. Today, many physicians are addressing their patients' underlying stress to better understand and treat various clinical disorders and their symptoms.

Herbert Benson, MD, a cardiologist and world-renowned pioneer in the field of mind/body medicine, Marilyn Wilcher, senior vice president of the Mind Body Institute, and their colleagues, have studied and effectively used mind/body medicine for more than 35 years. They have focused on the synergy between mind and body and used relaxation in various forms — including meditation, yoga, deep breathing, repetitive prayer and exercise — as a means to counter stress and control stress-related disorders. Benson and his team have treated thousands of people by integrating clinical treatment with what Benson has called the "relaxation response," a fundamental element of mind/body medicine. The term describes changes that occur as the body and mind move through the stages of relaxation, such as decreased heart rate and lowered blood pressure. Clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of these types of interventions on a wide range of medical problems — including hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, headaches and other types of pain, GI problems, insomnia and infertility — that can be caused or exacerbated by stress.

Under a new agreement, Benson and his Mind Body Institute colleagues officially have joined the MGH, where his team will integrate the field of mind/body medicine into the hospital's clinical care, research and training programs as the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at MGH. The institute is named in honor of Benson and recognizes the generous support of John Henry, principal owner of the Boston Red Sox and a trustee at both the institute and the MGH. On Dec. 1, the institute formally became a part of the MGH, with Benson serving as director emeritus; Gregory L. Fricchione, MD, associate chief of Psychiatry, serving as director; and Joy B. Rosen returning to the MGH from Partners HealthCare as executive director of the institute, as well as executive director of the MGH Department of Psychiatry. Wilcher will continue to play an important role by training health care professionals and leading outreach to schools and corporations.

Mind/body approaches have been practiced since ancient times to promote health and well-being, but the underlying reasons for its effectiveness have been poorly understood. Research at the institute has and will continue to involve measuring the effects of relaxation on the body's various systems, and deciphering the complex mechanisms of the mind/body connection using sophisticated diagnostic tools such as functional MRI and molecular and biochemical analyses. The ultimate goal is to use this knowledge to improve public health, as many risk factors for chronic illness are behavioral in nature.

"For centuries, mind/body interventions have improved people's health," says Fricchione. "As we come to better understand the neuroscience we are hopeful that we can make these positive patient health effects even stronger. We welcome Dr. Benson and his colleagues who have a longstanding and highly regarded reputation worldwide for expertly combining the best of conventional medicine with mind/body self-care. Here at the MGH we have had discussions with medical, psychiatric, nursing and social work services about working together. We already are working in close collaboration with the outstanding MGH Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Medicine Service, and we are planning an integration of the Benson-Henry Institute's Cardiac Wellness Program with the MGH Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Center. In addition, we have begun discussions with the MGH OB-GYN Service to begin infertility and menopause groups. We are looking forward to many more collaborations between the institute and MGH clinical services, research and training programs to enhance patient care, education and research in mind/body medicine and nursing at the hospital."

The Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at MGH is located at 824 Boylston St. in Chestnut Hill, Mass. For more information or to make a referral, call (617) 732-9130. Patient self-referrals are accepted.