This review seeks to address the usefulness of meditation as a therapeutic intervention in the framework of conceptual models of the meditation experience.
It is concluded that meditation practice may be associated with the acquisition of some useful skills (e.g., focussed attention), that practice may be physiologically relaxing, that meditation may enhance hypnotic induction and decrease anxiety, insomnia and drug usage, and increase self-actualisation. However, there is no compelling evidence that meditation is associated with unique state effects compared with other relaxation procedures. Those who appear to benefit most from practice appear to be those who present with milder disorders. The clinical value of meditation appears to be limited. The long-term objectives of meditation are not in general congruent with those of mainstream psychotherapy as they go beyond therapeutic gain in the clinical sense.