Herbert Benson, M.D.

Postdoctoral Training | Internships and Residencies:
 

Clinical and Research Fellowships:
 

Licensure and Certification:
 

Academic Appointments:
 

Hospital or Affiliated Institution Appointments:
 

Other Professional Positions and Major Visiting Appointments:
 

Hospital and Health Care Organization Service Responsibilities:
 

Major Administrative Responsibilities:
 

Major Committee Assignments:
Harvard Medical School:
 

Affiliated Institutions:
 

National and Regional
 

Professional Societies:
 

Community Service Related to Professional Work
 

Editorial Boards:
 

Awards and Honors:
 

PART II: Research, Teaching and Clinical Contributions

A. Narrative report:
Dr. Benson is the Mind/Body Medical Institute Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and the founding President of the Mind/Body Medical Institute. A graduate of Wesleyan University and the Harvard Medical School, he is the author or co-author of over 175 scientific publications and 11 books: The Relaxation Response, 1975; The Mind/Body Effect, 1979; Beyond the Relaxation Response, 1984; Your Maximum Mind, 1987; The Wellness Book, 1992; and Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief, 1996, The Relaxation Response – Updated and Expanded (25th Anniversary Edition), 2000; The Breakout Principle (co-authored with William Proctor), 2003; Mind Over Menopause(co-authored with Leslee Kagan), 2004, Mind Your Heart (co-authored with Aggie Casey), 2004 and The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure (co-authored with Aggie Casey), 2006. More than four million copies of Dr. Benson's books have been printed.

Dr. Benson is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in the fields of behavioral medicine and mind/body studies, as well as in spirituality and healing in medicine. His career has been one of leadership in teaching, clinical activities, administration and research. His research defined the relaxation response, the physiological counterpart of the fight or flight response. He continues to lead research into its basic physiology and efficacy of the relaxation response in counteracting the harmful effects of stress. The recipient of national and international awards, he lectures widely and delivers scores of presentations yearly. Dr. Benson's research extends from the laboratory to the clinic and to Asian field expeditions. His work serves as a bridge between medicine and spirituality, East and West, mind and body, as well as between belief and science.

Through his testimonies before the U.S. House and Senate, Dr. Benson has been instrumental in having scores of millions of dollars appropriated to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for mind/body, behavioral medicine research.

In 1988, Dr. Benson became founding president of the Mind/Body Medical Institute and remained in that position until 2006 when the Mind/Body Medical Institute ceased to exist. At that time, the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital was founded and he became its Director, Emeritus.

Harvard University has honored his many contributions by the establishment of the Herbert Benson Professorship in Medicine, which will be activated upon his retirement.

B. Funding Information
(Funding from individuals and organizations of less than $25,000 are not included)
 

C. Report of Current Research Activities

D. Report of Teaching (Summary of 35+ years)
1. Local contributions
Harvard Medical School
 

Leadership Roles

2. Regional, national, and international contributions
Invited Presentations (Summary 1980-present)
 

E. Report of Clinical Activities
 

PART III: Bibliography
Original Articles

 

1. Costas R Jr, Garcia-Palmieri MR, Feliberti M, Benson H, Blanton JH, Aixala R. Accuracy of death certification in metropolitan San Juan. Bol Assoc Med Puerto Rico 1964;56:411-23.
2. Garcia-Palmieri MR, Feliberti M, Costas R Jr, Benson H, Blanton JH, Aixala R. Coronary heart disease mortality: A death certificate study. J Chronic Dis 1965;18:1317-23.
3. Blanton JH, Rodriquez M, Costas R Jr, Benson H, Aixala R, Garcia-Palmieri MR. A dietary study of urban and rural males in Puerto Rico. Am J Clin Nutr 1966;18:169-75.
4. Benson H, Costas R Jr, Garcia-Palmieri MR, Feliberti M, Aixala R, Blanton JH, Colon AA. Coronary heart disease risk factors: A comparison of two Puerto Rican populations. Am J Public Health 1966;56:1057-60.
5. Truett JT, Benson H, Balke B. On the practicability of submaximal exercise testing. J Chronic Dis 1966;19:711-5.
6. Skinner JS, Benson H, McDonough JR, Hames CG. Social status, physical activity and coronary proneness. J Chronic Dis 1966;19:773-83.
7. Benson H, Ellis LB, Harken DE. The effect of preoperative systemic blood pressure on closed mitral valvuloplasty. A study of 1,630 patients with up to 15-year follow-up. Am Heart J 1968;75:439-48.
8. Ellis LB, Benson H, Harken DE. The effect of age and other factors on the early and late results following closed mitral valvuloplasty. (A study of 1,817 patients). Am Heart J 1968;75:743-51.
9. Benson H, Herd JA, Morse WH, Kelleher RT. The behavioral induction of arterial hypertension and its reversal. Am J Physiol 1969;217:30-4.
10. Benson H, Akbarian M, Adler LN, Agelmann WH. Hemodynamic effects of pneumonia. I. Normal and hypodynamic responses. J Clin Invest 1970;49:791-8.
11. Kumar R, Wallace WA, Ramirez A, Benson H, Abelmann WH. Hemodynamic effects of pneumonia. II. Expansion of plasma volume. J Clin Invest 1970;49:799-805.
12. Benson H, Herd JA, Morse WH, Kelleher, RT. Hypotensive effects of chlordiazepoxide, amobarbital, and chlorpromazine on behaviorally induced elevated blood pressure in the squirrel monkey. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1970;173:399-406.
13. Benson H, Herd JA, Morse WH, Kelleher RT. Behaviorally induced hypertension in the squirrel monkey. Circ Res Suppl 1970;I 26-27:21-26.
14. Benson H, Shapiro D, Tursky B, Schwartz GE. Decreased systolic blood pressure through operant conditioning techniques in patients with essential hypertension. Science 1971;173:
    740-2.
15. Wallace RK, Benson H, Wilson AF. A wakeful hypometabolic physiologic state. Am J Physiol 1971;221:795-9.
16. Benson H, Malvea BP, Graham JR. Physiologic correlates of meditation and their clinical effects in headache: An ongoing investigation. Headache 1973;13:23-24.
17. Benson H, Beary JF, Carol MP. The relaxation response. Psychiatry 1974;37:37-46.
18. Benson H. Decreased alcohol intake associated with the practice of meditation: A retrospective investigation. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1974;233:174-7.
19. Benson H, Rosner BA, Marzetta BR, Klemchuk HM. Decreased blood pressure in pharmacologically treated hypertensive patients who regularly elicited the relaxation response. Lancet 1974;i:289-91.
20. Beary JF, Benson H. A simple psychophysiologic technique which elicits the hypometabolic changes of the relaxation response. Psychosom Med 1974;36:115-20.
21. Benson H, Klemchuk HP, Graham JR. The usefulness of the relaxation response in the therapy of headache. Headache 1974;14:49-52.
22. Benson H, Rosner BA, Marzetta BR, Klemchuk H. Decreased blood pressure in borderline hypertensive subjects who practiced meditation. J Chronic Dis 1974;27:163-9.
23. Benson H, Steinert RF, Greenwood MM, Klemchuk HM, Peterson NH. Continuous measurement of O2 consumption and CO2 elimination during a wakeful hypometabolic state. J Human Stress 1975;1:37-44.
24. Benson H, Epstein MD. The placebo effect--a neglected asset in the care of patients. JAMA 1975;232:1225-7.
25. Benson H, Alexander S, Feldman CL. Decreased premature ventricular contractions through the use of the relaxation response in patients with stable ischemic heart disease. Lancet 1975;ii:380-2.
26. Benson H, Greenwood MM, Klemchuk H. The relaxation response: Psychophysiologic aspects and clinical applications. Psychiatry Med 1975;6:87-98.
27. Greenwood MM, Benson H. The efficacy of progressive relaxation in systematic desensitization and a proposal for an alternative competitive response - the relaxation response. Behav Res Ther 1977;15:337-43.
28. Peters RK, Benson H, Porter D. Daily relaxation response breaks in a working population: 1. Health, performance and well-being. Am J Public Health 1977;67:946-53.
29. Peters RK, Benson H, Peters JM. Daily relaxation response breaks in a working population: 2. Blood pressure. Am J Public Health 1977;67:954-9.
30. Benson H, Greenwood MM. Metabolic changes during the prodrome of a migraine headache. Headache. 1978; 17:248-9.
31. Benson H, Dryer T, Hartley LH. Decreased oxygen consumption during exercise with elicitation of the relaxation response. J Human Stress 1978;4:38-42.
32. Benson H, Frankel FH, Apfel R, Daniels MD, Schniewind HE, Nemiah JC, Sifneos PE, Crassweller KD, Greenwood MM, Kotch JB, Arns PA, Rosner B. Treatment of anxiety: A comparison of the usefulness of self-hypnosis and a meditational relaxation technique. Psychother Psychosom 1978;30:229-42.
33. Frankel FH, Apfel RJ, Kelly SF, Benson H, Quint T, Newmark J, Malmaud R. The use of hypnotizability scales in the clinic: A review after six years. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 1979;37:63-73.
34. Benson H, McCallie DP Jr. Angina pectoris and the placebo effect. N Engl J Med 1979;300:1424-9.
35. Carrington P, Collings GH Jr, Benson H, Robinson H, Wood LW, Lehrer PM, Woolfolk RL, Cole JW. The use of meditation-relaxation techniques for the management of stress in a working population. J Occup Med 1980;22:22-31.
36. Borysenko M, Turesky S, Borysenko JZ, Quimby F, Benson H. Stress and dental caries in the rat. J Behav Med 1980;3:233-43.
37. Bear D, Schenk L, Benson H. Increased autonomic response to neural and emotional stimuli in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Am J Psychiatry 1981;138:843-5.
38. Benson H, Arns PA, Hoffman JW. The relaxation response and hypnosis. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 1981;29:259-70.
39. Hoffman JW, Benson H, Arns PA, Stainbrook GL, Landsberg L, Young JB, Gill A. Reduced sympathetic nervous system responsivity associated with the relaxation response. Science 1982;215:190-2.
40. Benson H, Lehmann JW, Malhotra MS, Goldman RF, Hopkins J, Epstein MD. Body temperature changes during the practice of g tum-mo (heat) yoga. Nature 1982;295:234-6.
41. Benson H. Body temperature changes during the practice of g Tum-mo yoga. (Matters Arising) Nature 1982;298:402.
42. Crary B, Borysenko M, Sutherland DC, Kutz I, Borysenko JZ, Benson H. Decrease in mitogen responsiveness of mononuclear cells from peripheral blood following epinephrine administration in humans. J Immun 1983;130:694-7.
43. Jemmott JB, Borysenko JZ, Borysenko M, McClelland DC, Chapman R, Meyer D, Benson H. Academic stress, power motivation, and decrease in salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion rate. Lancet 1983;1:1400-2.
44. Crary B, Hauser SL, Borysenko M, Kutz I, Hoban C, Weiner HL, Benson H. Epinephrine-induced changes in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of humans. J Immunol 1983;131:1178-81.
45. Kutz I, Borysenko JZ, Benson H. Meditation and psychotherapy: A rationale for the integration of dynamic psychotherapy, the relaxation response and mindfulness meditation. Am J Psychiatry 1985;142:1-8.
46. Pomeranz B, Macaulay RJB, Caudill MA, Kutz I, Adam D, Gordon D, Kilborn K, Barger AC, Shannon DC, Cohen RJ, Benson H. Assessment of autonomic function in man by heart rate spectral analysis. Am J Physiol 1985;248:H151-3.
47. Kutz I, Lesermen, J, Dorrington C, Morrison CH, Borysenko J, Benson H. Meditation as an adjunct to psychotherapy: an outcome study. Psychother Psychosom 1985;43:209-18.
48. Fentress DW, Masek BJ, Mehegan JE, Benson H. Biofeedback and relaxation-response training in the treatment of pediatric migraine. Dev Med Child Neurol 1986;28:139-46.
49. Lehmann JW, Goodale IL, Benson H. Reduced pupillary sensitivity to topical phenylephrine associated with the relaxation response. J Human Stress 1986;12:101-4.
50. Stuart EM, Caudill M, Leserman J, Dorrington C, Friedman R, Benson H. Non-pharmacologic treatment of hypertension: a multiple risk-factor approach. J Cardiovasc Nurs 1987;1:1-14.
51. Domar AD, Noe JM, Ransil B, Benson H. The preoperative use of the relaxation response with ambulatory surgery patients. J Human Stress 1987;13:101-7.
52. Shannon DC, Carley DW, Benson H. Aging of modulation of heart rate. AM J Physiol 1987;253:H874-7.
53. Leserman J, Stuart EM, Mamish ME, Benson H.. The efficacy of the relaxation response in preparing for cardiac surgery. Behav Med 1989;5:111-7.
54. Leserman J, Stuart EM, Mamish ME, Deckro JP, Beckam RJ, Friedman R, Benson H. Nonpharmacologic intervention for hypertension: Long term follow-up. J Cardiopulmonary Rehabil. 1989; 9:316-24.
55. Mandle CL, Domar AD, Harrington DP, Leserman J, Bozadjian EM, Friedman R, Benson H. The relaxation response in femoral arteriography. Radiology 1990;174:737-9.
56. Goodale IL, Domar AD, Benson H. Alleviation of premenstrual syndrome symptoms with the relaxation response. Obstet Gynecol 1990;75:649-55.
57. Domar AD, Seibel MS, Benson H. The mind/body program for infertility: A new behavioral treatment approach for women with infertility. Fertil Steril 1990;53:246-9.
58. Benson H, Malhotra MS, Goldman RF, Jacobs GD, Hopkins PJ. Three case reports of the metabolic and electroencephalographic changes during advanced Buddhist meditative techniques. Behav Med 1990;16:90-5.
59. Hellman CJC, Budd M, Borysenko J, McClelland DC, Benson H. A study of the effectiveness of two group behavioral medicine interventions for patients with psychosomatic complaints. Behav Med 1990;16:165-73.
60. Kass JD, Friedman R, Leserman J, Zuttermeister PC, Benson H. Health outcome and a new index of spiritual experience. J Sci Stud Religion 1991;30:203-11.
61. Kass JD, Friedman R, Leserman J, Caudill M, Zuttermeister PC, Benson H. An inventory of positive psychological attitudes with potential relevance to health outcomes: Validation and preliminary testing. Behav Med 1991;17:121-9.
62. Caudill M, Schnable R, Zuttermeister P, Benson H, Friedman R. Decreased clinic utilization by chronic pain patients: Response to Behavioral Medicine intervention. Clin J Pain 1991;7:305-10.
63. Myers SS, Benson H. Psychological factors in healing: A new perspective on an old debate. Behav Med 1992;18:5-11.
64. Domar AD, Zuttermeister P, Seibel M, Benson H. Psychological improvement in infertile women after behavioral treatment: A replication. Fertil Steril 1992;58:144-7.
65. Jacobs GD, Rosenberg PA, Friedman R, Matheson J, Guerry PM, Domar AD, Benson H. Multifactor behavioral treatment of chronic sleep-onset insomnia using stimulus control and the relaxation response: A preliminary study. Behav Mod 1993;17:498-509.
66. Jacobs GD, Benson H, Friedman R. Home-based central nervous system assessment of multifactor behavioral intervention for chronic sleep-onset insomnia. Behav Ther 1993;24:159-74.
67. Benson H, Kornhaber A, Kornhaber C, LeChanu MN, Zuttermeister PC, Myers P, Friedman R. Increases in positive psychological characteristics with a new relaxation-response curriculum in high school students. J Res Dev Ed 1994;
    27:226-31.
68. Jacobs SC, Friedman R, Parker JD, Tofler GH, Jimanez AH, Muller JE, Benson H, Stone PH. Use of skin conductance changes during mental stress testing as an index of autonomic arousal in cardiovascular research. Am Heart J 1994;
    128:1170-7.
69. Middleman MA, Maclure M, Sherwood JB, Mulry RP, Tofler GH, Jacobs SC, Friedman R, Benson H, Muller JE. Triggering of acute myocardial infarction onset by episodes of anger. Circulation. 1995; 92: 1720-5.
70. Jacobs GD, Benson H, Friedman R. Perceived benefits in a behavioral-medicine insomnia program a clinical report. Am J Med 1996;100:212-6.
71. Jacobs GD, Benson H. Topographic EEG mapping of the relaxation response. Biofeed Selfreg 1996; 21: 1-7.
72. Peng CK, Mietus JE, Liu Y, Khalsa G, Douglas PS, Benson H, Goldberger AI. Exaggerated heart rate oscillations during two meditation techniques. Int J Cardiol, 1999; 70:101-7.
73. Benson H, Dusek JA. Self-reported health, illness and the use of conventional, unconventional medicine, and mind/body, spiritual healing in Christian Scientists and others. J Nerv Ment Dis, 1999; 186:539-48.
74. Tasiemski A, Salzet M, Benson H, Fricchione GL, Bilfinger TV, Goumon Y, Metz-Boutigue MH, Aunis D, Stefano GB. The presence of antibacterial and opioid peptides in human plasma during coronary artery bypass surgery. J Neuroimmunol, 2000; 109:228-35.
75. Lazar SW, Bush G, Gollub RL, Fricchione GL, Khalsa G, Benson H. Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation. NeuroReport, 2000; 11:1581-85.
76. Benson H, Wilcher M, Greenberg B, Higgins E, Ennis M, Zuttermeister PC, Myers P, Friedman R. Academic performance among middle-school students after exposure to a relaxation response curriculum. J Res Dev Ed, 2000; 33:156-65.
77. Nakao M, Fricchione G, Myers P, Zuttermeister PC, Baim M, Mandle, CL, Medich C, Wells-Federman CL, Arcari PM, Ennis M, Barsky, AJ, Benson H. Anxiety is a good indicator for somatic symptom reduction through a behavioral medicine intervention in a mind/body medicine clinic. Psychother Psychosom, 2001; 70:50-7.
78. Stefano GB, Murga J, Benson H, Zhu W, Bilfinger TV, Magazine, HI. Nitric oxide inhibits norepinephrine stimulated contraction of human internal thoracic artery and rat aorta. Pharmacol Res, 2001;43:199-203.
79. Nakao M, Fricchione G, Zuttermeister PC, Myers P, Barsky AJ, Benson H. Effects of gender and marital status on somatic symptoms of patients attending a mind/body medicine clinic. Behav Med, 2001; 26:159-68.
80. Nakao M, Myers P, Fricchione G, Zuttermeister PC, Barsky AJ, Benson H. Somatization and symptom reduction through a behavioral medicine intervention a mind/body medicine clinic. Behav Med, 2001; 26:169-76.
81. Nakao M, Fricchione G, Myers P, Zuttermeister PC, Barsky AJ, Benson H. Depression and education as predicting factors for completion of behavioral medicine intervention in a mind/body medicine clinic. Behav Med, 2001; 26:177-84.
82. Dusek JA, Sherwood JB, Friedman R, Myers P, Bethea CF, Levitsky S, Hill PC, Jain MK, Kopecky SL, Mueller PS, Lam P, Benson H. Study of the therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer (STEP): study design and research methods. Am Heart J 2002; 143:577-84.
83. Deckro GR, Ballinger KM, Hoyt M, Wilcher M, Dusek, J, Myers P, Greenberg B, Rosenthal DS, Benson H. The evaluation of a mind/body intervention to reduce psychological distress and perceived stress in college students. J Am Coll Health 2002; 281-7.
84. Peng C-K, Henry IC, Mietus JE, Hausdorff JM, Khalsa G, Benson H, Goldberger AL. Heart rate dynamics during three forms of meditation. Int J Cardiol, 2004; 95:19-27.
85. Lazar SW, Kerr CE, Wasserman RH, Gray JR, Greve DN, Treadway MT, McCarvey M, Quinn BT, Dusek, JA, Benson H, Rausch SL, Moore CI, Fischl B. Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. NeuroReport, 2005; 16:1893-7.
86. Dusek JA, Chang BH, Zaki J, Lazar S, Deykin A, Stefano GB, Wohlhueter AL, Hibberd PL, Benson H. Association between oxygen consumption and nitric oxide production during the relaxation response. Med Sci Monit, 2006; 12: CR1-10.
87. Benson H, Dusek JA, Sherwood JB, Lam P, Bethea CF, Carpenter W, Levitsky S, Hill P, Clem Jr. DW, Jain MK, Drumel D, Kopecky SL, Mueller PS, Marek D, Rollins S, Hibberd PL. Study of the therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients - a multi-center randomized trial of uncertainty and certainty of receiving intercessory prayer. Am Heart J, (in press).
88. Galvin JA, Benson H, Deckro GR, Fricchione GL, Dusek JA. The relaxation response: Reducing stress and improving cognition in healthy aging adults. Comp Ther Clin Prac, 2006; 12:186-91.

Reviews, Chapters, and Editorials

1. Benson H. Yoga for drug abuse. New England Journal of Medicine 1969;281:1133 (letter to the editor).
2. Goldsmith RS, Arnaud CD, Benson H. Comparison of metabolic and hemodynamic responses to phosphate and calcitonin in Paget's disease of bone. In: Immunopathology of inflammation. Excerpta Medica International Congress Series, 1970;229:257-66.
3. Gutmann MC, Benson H. Interaction of environmental factors and systemic arterial blood pressure: A review. Medicine 1971;50:543-53.
4. Benson H. How antihypertensive drugs act: A physiologic approach. Consultant. 1972;12:23-4.
5. Benson H, Wallace RK. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of 1,861 subjects. In: Zarafonetis CJD, ed. Drug abuse-proceedings of the international conference. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1972:369-76.
6. Marzetta BR, Benson H, Wallace RK. Combating drug dependency in young people: A new approach. Counterpoint 1972;4:13-36.
7. Wallace RK, Benson H. The physiology of meditation. Sci Am 1972;226:84-90.
8. Benson H. Methods of blood pressure recording: 1733-1971. In: Onestic G, Kim KE, Moyer JH, eds. Hypertension: mechanisms and management. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1973:119-23.
9. Benson H. Conditioned modifications of blood pressure. In: Onesti G, Kim KE, Moyer JH, eds. Hypertension: mechanisms and management. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1973:119-23.
10. Benson H. Transcendental meditation science or cult? JAMA 1974;227:807.
11. Benson H. Your innate asset for combating stress. Harvard Business Review 1974;52:49-60.
12. Benson H, Gutmann MC. The relation of environmental factors to systemic arterial hypertension. In: Eliot RS, ed. Contemporary problems in cardiology, vol. I. Stress and the heart. Mt. Kisco, New York: Futura, 1974:13-31.
13. Benson H, Marzetta BR, Rosner BA. Decreased blood pressure associated with the regular elicitation of the relaxation response: a study of hypertensive subjects. In: Eliot RS, ed. Contemporary problems in cardiology, vol. I. Stress and the heart. Mt. Kisco, New York: Futura, 1974:293-302.
14. Shapiro D, Schwartz GE, Benson H. Biofeedback: a behavioral approach to cardiovascular self-control. In: Eliot RS, ed. Contemporary problems in cardiology, vol. I. Stress and the heart. Mt. Kisco, New York: Futura, 1974:279-92.
15. Benson H. The relaxation response and cardiovascular diseases. Chest, Heart, Stroke J 1976;1:28-31.
16. Benson H, Greenwood MM. Behavioral modifications of blood pressure in man. In: Onesti G, Fernandes M, Kim KE, eds. Regulation of blood pressure by the central nervous system. New York: Grune and Stratton, 1976:119-28.
17. Benson H, Kotch JB, Crassweller KD. The usefulness of the relaxation response in the treatment of stress-related cardiovascular diseases. J S C Med Assoc 1976;72:50-6.
18. Benson H. Can hypertension be induced by stress? A case discussion. J Human Stress 1977;3:4-11.
19. Benson H. Systemic hypertension and the relaxation response. N Engl J Med 1977;296:1152-6.
20. Benson H, Kotch JB, Crassweller KD. The relaxation response: A bridge between psychiatry and medicine. Med Clin North Am 1977;61:929-38.
21. Benson H, Kotch JB, Crassweller KD, Greenwood MM. Historical and clinical considerations of the relaxation response. Am Sci 1977;65:441-5.
22. Benson H, Kotch JB, Crassweller KD. Stress and hypertension: Interrelations and management. In: Onesti G, Brest AM, eds. Hypertension: Mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment. Philadelphia: Davis, 1978:113-24.
23. Peters RK, Benson H. Time out from tension. Harvard Business Review 1978;56:120-4.
24. Benson H. Behavioral Medicine: A perspective from within the field of medicine. National Forum 1980;60:3-5.
25. Benson H. The placebo effect. Harvard Med School Health Letter 1980;5:3-4.
26. Benson H, Allen RL. How much stress is too much? Harvard Business Review 1980;58:86-92.
27. Kutz I, Borysenko JZ, Come SE, Benson H. Paradoxical emetic response to antiemetic treatment in cancer patients. N Engl J Med 1980;303:1480 (letter to the editor).
28. Benson H, Goodale I. The relaxation response: Your inborn capacity to counteract the harmful effects of stress. J Fla Med Assoc 1981; 68:265-7.
29. Wechsler H, Benson H, Bovey JD. Training of health researchers: Postdoctoral trainees and fellows in Massachusetts. Mass J Community Health 1981;1:30-3.
30. Benson H. The relaxation response: History, physiologic basis and clinical usefulness. Acta Med Scand 1982;660(Suppl):231-7.
31. Lehmann JW, Benson H. Nonpharmacologic therapy of blood pressure. Gen Hosp Psychiatry
    1982;4:27-32.
32. Stainbrook GL, Hoffman HW, Benson H. Behavioral therapies of hypertension: psychotherapy, biofeedback, and relaxation/meditation. Rev Int Psychol 1983;32:119-35.
33. Benson H. The relaxation response: Its subjective and objective historical precedents and physiology. TINS 1983;6:281-4.
34. Lehmann JW, Benson H. The behavioral treatment of hypertension. In: Genest J, Kuchel O, Hamet P, Cantin M, eds. Hypertension: Physiopathology and treatment. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983:1238-45.
35. Benson H. The relaxation response: Physiologic basis and clinical applicability. In: Dembroski TM, Schmidt TH, Blumchen G, eds. Biobehavioral bases of coronary heart disease. Besel: Karger, 1983:439-49.
36. Benson H. Relaxation response and norepinephrine: A new study illuminates mechanisms. Integrative Psychiatry 1983;1:15-19.
37. Benson H. The author responds. Integrative Psychiatry 1983;1:66-8.
38. Kutz I, Caudill M, Benson H. The role of relaxation in behavioral therapies of chronic pain. In: Stein JM, Warfield CA, eds. Pain management. Boston: Little Brown, 1983:193-200.
39. Benson H. The relaxation response and the treatment of anxiety. In: Grinspoon L, ed. Psychiatric update. The American Psychiatric Association annual review vol. III. Washington: American Psychiatric Press, 1984:440-8 and 530-1.
40. Benson H, Caudill MA. The use of relaxation techniques in the management of hypertension. Primary Cardiol 1984;10:137-44.
41. Benson H, Pomeranz B, Kutz I. Pain and the relaxation response. In: Wall PD and Melzack R, eds. Textbook of pain. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1984:817-22.
42. Barr BP, Benson H. The relaxation response and cardiovascular disorders. Behav Med Update 1985;6:28-30.
43. Benson H, Friedman R. A rebuttal to the conclusions of David S. Holmes' article: "Meditation and somatic arousal reduction." Am Psychologist 1985;40:725-8.
44. Benson H. Stress, health and the relaxation response. In: Gentry WD, Benson H, deWolff CJ, eds. Behavioral medicine: Work, stress and health. Dordrecht: M. Nijhoff. NATO ASI Series D No. 19, 1985:15-32.
45. Benson H. Stress, anxiety and the relaxation response. In: Behavioral biology in medicine A monograph series: No. 3. So. Norwalk, CT: Meducation, 1985:1-28.
46. Williams RB Jr, Benson H, Follick MJ. Disease as a reflection of the psyche. N Engl J Med 1985;313:1356-7 (letter to the editor).
47. Benson H. The relaxation response. How to lower blood pressure, cope with pain and reduce anxiety in 20 minutes a day. Harvard Medical Alumni Bull 1986;60:33-5.
48. Benson H. The physiology, history and clinical applications of the relaxation response. In: Klump W, ed. Encyclopedia of neuroscience. Boston: Birkhauser, 1987:1045-7.
49. Caudill M, Friedman R, Benson H. Relaxation therapy in the control of blood pressure. Bibl Cardiol 1987;41:106-19.
50. Benson H. The relaxation response: A bridge between medicine and religion. Harvard Med School Letter 1988;4:4-6.
51. Benson H. Book review of The Golden Guru. The strange journey of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Harvard Medical Alumni Bull 1988;62:10-1.
52. Benson H. Hypnosis and the relaxation response. (Editorial) Gastroenterology 1989;96:1609-11.
53. Everly GS Jr, Benson H. Disorders of arousal and the relaxation response: Speculations on the nature and treatment of stress-related diseases. Int J Psychosomatics 1989;36:15-21.
54. Benson H. A tribute to Norman Cousins. Advances 1991;7:56-7.
55. Friedman R, Stuart EM, Benson H. Essential hypertension: nonpharmacologic adjuncts to therapy. In: Cooke JP, Frohlich ED, ed. Current management of hypertensive and vascular diseases. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, 1992:1-7.
56. Friedman R, Siegel WC, Jacobs SC, Benson H. JAMA (Letter to the editor) 1992;268:198.
57. Domar AD, Friedman R, Benson H. Behavior therapy. In: Warfield CA, ed. Principles and practice of pain management. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993:437-44.
58. Benson H. The relaxation response. In: Goleman D, Gurin J, ed. Mind/Body medicine. Yonkers: Consumer Reports Books, 1993:233-57.
59. Friedman R, Zuttermeister P, Benson H. (Letter to the editor) N Engl J Med, 1993; 329: 1201.
60. Stuart E, Friedman R, Benson H. Promoting nonpharmacologic interventions to treat elevated blood pressure. Behavioral Science Learning Modules, Geneva: World Health Organization, 1993: 1-42.
61. Domar AD, Benson H. Application of behavioral medicine techniques to the treatment of infertility. In: Seibel MM, Kiessling AA, Bernstein J, Levin SR, eds. Technology and infertility: Clinical, psychological, legal and ethical aspects. New York: Springer-Verlaq 1993: 355-360.
62. Benson H, Stuart EM, Friedman R. (Letter to the editor) Ann Int Med, 1994; 230: 91.
63. Friedman R, Benson H. Behavioral medicine: a retrospective and a look forward. Behav Med 1994; 19: 143-4.
64. Friedman R, Vasile RG, Gallagher RM, Benson H. Behavioral-medicine and psychiatry: Difference and areas of collaboration. Directions Psychiatry 1994: 14: 1-8.
65. Friedman R, Shackelford A, Reiff S, Benson H. Stress and weight maintenance: the disinhibition effect and the micromanagement of stress. In: Blackburn GL, Kanders, BS, ed. Obesity pathophysiology psychology and treatment. New York: Chapman Hall, 1994: 253-63.
66. Benson H, Friedman R. Alternative to mainstream medicine: science as the arbiter. Congressional Record. Proceedings and Debates of the 103th Congress, Second Session, 1994; 140: E1199-200.
67. Benson H, Friedman R. The three legged stool: Mind/Body medicine and mainstream medical care. Mind/Body Med 1995; 1: 1-2.
68. Benson H. Commentary: Placebo effect and remembered wellness. Mind/Body Med 1995; 1: 44-5.
69. Friedman R, Sobel D, Myers P, Caudill M, Benson H. Behavioral medicine, health psychology and cost offset. Health Psychol 1995; 14:509-18.
70. Benson H, Friedman R. Harnessing the power of the placebo effect and renaming it "remembered wellness". Annu Rev Med 1996; 47: 193-9.
71. Friedman R, Myers P, Krass S, Benson H. The Relaxation Response: Use with Cardiac Patients. In: Allen R, Scheidt S. eds. Heart and mind. The practice of cardiac psychology. American Psychological Association Press, Washington, 1996; 363-84.
72. Benson H, Friedman R. Behavioral medicine and health care reform. The Leifer Report. Spring Summer, 1996.
73. Friedman R, Benson H. Mind/body medicine and diversity. Mind/Body Med 1996; 175.
74. Friedman R, Benson H. Spirituality, religious practice and medical outcomes. Mind/Body Med 1997; 2:87.
75. Friedman R, Steinman M, Benson H. The relaxation response: physiological effects and medical applications. In: Haruki Y. ed. Comparative and psychological studies on meditation. Tokyo: Waseda University Press, 1996: 205-11.
76. Friedman R, Sedler M, Myers P, Benson H. Behavioral Medicine, Complementary Medicine and Integrated Care: Economic Implications. In: Randall J, Lazar J, ed. Primary Care. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1997: 949-62.
77. Friedman R, Myers P, Benson H. Meditation and the Relaxation Response. In: Friedman HS, ed. Encyclopedia of Mental Health. San Diego: Academic Press, 1998: 621-8.
78. Friedman R, Myers P, Benson H. Relaxation response. In:Allison N, ed. Illustrated encyclopedia of body-mind disciplines. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, 1999:322-4.
79. Benson H, Myers P. The importance of the placebo effect in alternative therapies. The Forum, 1999; 19:7-8.
80. Benson, H. The relaxation response. Physiology, history and clinical applications. In: Adelman G, Smith BH, eds. Encyclopedia of neuroscience. 2nd edition Boston:Elsevier, 1776-8.
81. Benson H, Myers P. Medical aspects of belief. In: Stannard, R. ed. God for the 21st century. Radnor, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press, 2000.
82. Benson H, Myers P. Mind/body medicine and spirituality. In: Hermann, R. ed., Ten scientists consider humility theology, 2000.
83. Koenig HG, Idler E, Kasl S, Hays JC, George LK, Musick M, Larson DB, Collins TR, Benson. H. Religion, spirituality, and medicine: A rebuttal to skeptics. Int J Psychiatry Med, 1999; 29:123-31.
84. Kradin R, Benson, H. Stress, the relaxation response and immunity. Mod Asp Immunobiol, 2000; 1:110-3.
85. Stefano GB, Fricchione GL, Slingsby BT, Benson H. The placebo effect and the relaxation response: neural processes and their coupling to constitutive nitric oxide. Brain Res Rev 2001; 35:1-19.
86. Esch T, Stefano GB, Fricchione GL, Benson H. Stress in cardiovascular diseases. Med Sci Monit, 2002; 8:RA 93-101.
87. Esch T, Stefano GB, Fricchione GL, Benson H. Stress-related diseases-a potential role for nitric oxide. Med Sci Monit 2002, 8:RA 103-118.
88. Esch T, Stefano GB, Fricchione GL, Benson H. The role of stress in neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders. Neuroendocrinol Lett 2002; 23: 199-208.
89. Esch T, Stefano GB, Fricchione GL, Benson H. An overview of stress and its impact in immunological diseases. Mod ASP Immunobiol 2002; 2:187-92.
90. Stefano GB, Esch T, Cadet P, Zhu W, Mantione K, Benson H. Endocannabinoids as auturegulatory signaling molecules: coupling to nitric oxide and a possible association with the relaxation response. Med Sci Monit 2003; 9:RA63-75.
91. Benson H. Are you working too hard? Harvard Business Review 2005; 83:53-8.
92. Benson H, Casey A, eds. Stress control. Harvard Health Publications, 2006 (in press).

Books, Monographs, and Text Books

 

1. Benson H. The relaxation response. New York: Morrow, 1975.
1a. ibid, London: Collins, 1976.
1b. ibid, New York: Avon, 1976.
1c. ibid, (Mietiskellen mielenrauhaan) Helsinki: Werner Soderstrom Osakeyhtio, 1976.
1d. ibid, Boston: Hall, 1976.
1e. ibid, (Reagir par la detente) Paris: Tchou, 1976.
1f. ibid, (La risposta rilassante) Milan: Rizzoli Editore, 1977.
1g. ibid, Tokyo: Kodan Sha, 1977.
1h. ibid, (Relajacion) Barcelona: Editorial Pomaire, 1977.
1i. ibid, (Afspaending meditation og blodtryk) Copenhagen: Bergens Forlag, 1977.
1j. ibid, (Aprendendo a relaxar) Rio de Janeiro: Editora Artenova, 1977.
1k. ibid, (Bewust ontspannen) Amsterdam: H J W Becht's Uitgeversmaatschappij, 1978.
1l. ibid, (Arslappning) Varnamo: Brombers Bokforlag, 1980.
1m. ibid, Seoul, Dongdowan (in press)
 

2. Benson H. The mind/body effect. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1979.
2a. ibid, (El effecto mente/cuerpo) Barcelona-Buenos Aires-Mexico: Grijalbo, 1980.
2b. ibid, New York: Berkley, 1980.
2c. ibid, (Medicina Humanista) Sao Paulo: Editora Brasiliense, 1980.
 

3. Benson H. Beyond the relaxation response. New York: Times Books, 1984.
3a. ibid, London: Collins-Fount, 1985.
3b. ibid, New York: Berkley, 1985.
3c. ibid, Barcelona: Grijalbo Ediciones, 1986.
3d. ibid, Seoul: Hakjisa, 2003
 

4 Benson H. Your maximum mind. New York: Times Books/Random House, 1987.
4a. ibid, London: Thorson's, 1988.
4b. ibid, New York: Avon, 1989.
4c. ibid, (El poder de la mente) Barcelona: Grijalbo Ediciones, 1989.
 

5. Benson H, Stuart E, Staff of the Benson-Henry Institute. The wellness book. New York: Carol, 1992.
5a. ibid, New York: Fireside, 1993.
5b. ibid, Wien: Donauland, 1998.
 

6. Benson H. Timeless Healing: The Power and biology of belief. New York: Scribner, 1996.
6a. ibid, Rydalmere (Australia): Hodder & Stoughton, 1996.
6b. ibid, London: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
6c. ibid, Rockland: Wheeler, 1996.
6d. ibid, (Geloof in uw eigen geneeskracht de medische werking van geest en spiritualiteit) Utrecht: Kosmos, 1996.
6e. ibid, (Curados por la Fe. Revelador Estudio Sobre el Poder Curativo de las Creencias) Bogota: Grupo Editorial Norma , 1996.
6f. ibid, (Siempre Sano. La Biolog’a y la Fuerza de las Creencias) Barcelona: Grijalbo, 1996.
6g. ibid, New York: Fireside, 1996.
6h. ibid, (Credere Per Poter Guarire) Milan: Sperling & Kupfer, 1997.
6i. ibid, Munich: (Heilung Durch Glauben. Die Beweise. Selbstheilung In Der Neuen Medizin) Heyne Verlag, 1997.
6j. ibid, Tokyo: Shoeisha, 1997.
6k. ibid, (Moc A B’ologie V’ry V Uzdraven’) Prague: Sofa, 1997.
6l. ibid, London: Pocket Books, 1998.
6m. ibid, (Medicina Espiritual. O Poder Essencial da Cura) Rio de Janeiro: Editorial Campas, 1998.
6n. ibid, Tapei: Successmart, 1998.
6o. ibid, Bratislava: Sofa, 1998.
6p. ibid, Seoul: Miresa, 1998.
6q. ibid, Jakarta: Binarupa Aksara, 1998.
 

7. Benson H. The relaxation response updated and expanded (25th the anniversary edition) New York: Avon, 2000.
7a. ibid, (Reakcija Opustanja) Zagreb: Algoritam, 2001
7b ibid, Moscow: Astrel, (In Press)
 

8. Benson H, Proctor W. The breakout principle. New York: Scribner, 2003.
8a. ibid, Moscow: Eksmo, 2004
8b. ibid, Tokyo: PHP, 2004.
8c. ibid, Indonesia: Kifa, 2005
8d. ibid, Paris: Editions Sand, (in press)
8e. ibid, Seoul: Hakjisz, (in press)
 

9. Kagan L, Kessel B, Benson H. Mind over menopause. New York: Free Press, 2004.
 

10. Casey A, Benson H. Mind your heart. New York: Free Press, 2004
 

11. Casey A, Benson H. The Harvard Medical School guide to lowering your blood pressure. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006
 

Educational Material
For each of the six courses listed on pages 9 and 10, Dr. Benson had the leadership role. He was responsible for the syllabi, tutorial cases and teaching exhibits. The syllabi are numerous and are not individually listed.