Prospective Studies from Germany Are Lacking

In their article, Cramer et al. summarize the evidence relating to the subject of mind-body medicine (MBM) (1). The definition and subject matter of MBM are described in the second and third paragraphs of the introduction as “intensive […] programs for lifestyle modification” that entail “not only nutritional advice and exercise/sport, but also relaxation techniques and psychological motivational elements.” This raises the question of whether the literature search should not have included in the analyses the prospective phase II studies of outpatient and inpatient cardiological rehabilitation in Germany, which are entirely consistent with the multimodal concept of MBM as presented (2–4)? This form of rehabilitation according to the 2007 German guideline for the rehabilitation of patients with cardiovascular disorders (DU-Reha) is (translated from verbatim quote) “the process by which patients with heart disease are supported by means of a multidisciplinary team in their efforts to regain at the individual level the best possible physical and psychological health and social integration and to sustain these in the long term.”