"The studies are a long way from being completed, so we are not at the point where we can report on the results of them yet. But the results that have been gotten are similar to other relaxation methods," said Dr. Jim Carson, a clinical associate of medical psychiatry at Duke and former monk of the yogic tradition in India.

The rise in nationally funded support for meditation studies reflects a growing trend toward the use of new treatment methods for pain and stress. Critics have reservations about its medical legitimacy, but advocates champion the use of integrative medicine for pain and stress management.

"There are people who are still against medical meditation, but it's typically because they are not that familiar with the methods and are concerned that this is something that is unscientific," Carson said. Objections are becoming increasingly rare and are weakened by growing medical support, he added.

"I certainly am pleased with the degree to which behavioral and psychologically-based techniques are integrated within the medical practice," said Dr. Christopher Edwards, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and assistant clinical professor of medicine. "Ultimately the goal is to see the disease as it is actually lived by patients. You can't just attend to your patients' biology when they also have pain, and comprehensive treatment approaches really must integrate attention to the psychological, social and behavioral factors of disease."

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