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The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review

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Abstract

Although mindfulness-based therapy has become a popular treatment, little is known about its efficacy. Therefore, our objective was to conduct an effect size analysis of this popular intervention for anxiety and mood symptoms in clinical samples. We conducted a literature search using PubMed, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and manual searches. Our meta-analysis was based on 39 studies totaling 1,140 participants receiving mindfulness-based therapy for a range of conditions, including cancer, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and other psychiatric or medical conditions. Effect size estimates suggest that mindfulness-based therapy was moderately effective for improving anxiety (Hedges's g = 0.63) and mood symptoms (Hedges's g = 0.59) from pre- to posttreatment in the overall sample. In patients with anxiety and mood disorders, this intervention was associated with effect sizes (Hedges's g) of 0.97 and 0.95 for improving anxiety and mood symptoms, respectively. These effect sizes were robust, were unrelated to publication year or number of treatment sessions, and were maintained over follow-up. These results suggest that mindfulness-based therapy is a promising intervention for treating anxiety and mood problems in clinical populations.

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... This simple yet powerful practice helps individuals manage their mental and emotional states more effectively, creating a buffer against the stressors of daily life (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). By interrupting the cycles of rumination and negative thinking, which often lead to anxiety and depression, mindfulness serves as a protective factor against these common mental health challenges (Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010). ...
... A simple way to start practicing mindfulness is through mindful breathing. Taking just a few moments each day to focus on your breath, and gently bringing your attention back whenever it wanders, can help you stay grounded and reduce stress (Hofmann et al., 2010). Another easy mindfulness practice is mindful eating, where you focus entirely on the taste, texture, and aroma of your food. ...
... Additionally, the commitment required to consistently practice both mindfulness and positive psychology can be daunting, especially when life's demands make it hard to maintain these practices (Baer, 2003;Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005). Moreover, the benefits of these practices often develop slowly, leading to potential frustration if immediate results aren't seen (Hofmann et al., 2010). To overcome these challenges, it's essential to view mindfulness and positive psychology as complementary rather than conflicting. ...
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This paper delves into how combining mindfulness with positive psychology can significantly boost well-being. Mindfulness, with its roots in ancient Eastern practices, helps people stay present and manage stress, anxiety, and negative thought patterns. On the other hand, positive psychology focuses on building strengths, nurturing positive emotions, and fostering fulfilling relationships. When these approaches are combined, they offer a powerful way to not only reduce mental distress but also to cultivate a more joyful, resilient, and meaningful life. This integration has been shown to be effective in various areas, including mental health care, education, and the workplace. While it can be challenging to maintain a balance between accepting the present and striving for personal growth, regularly practicing mindfulness and positive psychology can lead to lasting improvements in mental health. The paper highlights how these practices, when incorporated into everyday life, can create a more balanced, purposeful, and fulfilling existence.
... To the best of our knowledge, similar intervention studies using the PHQ-4 to assess similar outcomes do not yet exist, and therefore effect sizes for the primary outcome of anxiety and depression levels, respectively, were considered. The pooled effect sizes for anxiety and depression in previous studies were 0.63 and 0.59, respectively, with 80% efficacy at a 5% two-sided significance level [18]. The sample size required for studies of changes in anxiety levels was approximately 18, while for studies of changes in depression levels, the sample size required was approximately 21. ...
... Depression levels were also moderately different between the two groups (Z = 2.141, P = 0.032, r = 0.210). This effect size is consistent with previous findings, which supports the validity of the new health management approach [18]. Considering the limitations of current health management approaches, our findings provide a new perspective on postoperative cancer management. ...
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Background Despite the high cure rate of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), patients endure side effects from treatment and psychological distress, impacting their quality of life. The potential of mobile health (mHealth) interventions to address these issues remains unexplored. The purpose of this study is to develop an mHealth intervention based on the Multi-Theoretical Model of Health Behavior Change (MTM) and evaluate its impact on reducing anxiety, depression, fear of cancer progression, and enhancing quality of life in DTC patients. Methods A single-blind, single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred and eleven consecutive DTC patients from Harbin Medical University’s Fourth Hospital were enrolled from March 2023 to March 2024. Participants were randomized into a control group and an intervention group that received a 3-month mHealth intervention based on MTM theory. Outcomes were assessed using web-based questionnaires at baseline and conclusion. Results One hundred four patients with DTC completed the study, with 7 lost to follow-up (6.3%). The intervention group experienced a significant drop in PHQ-4 scores post-MTM-mHealth intervention (P < .026), with no change in the control group, demonstrating a significant difference. The intervention group also had significantly lower anxiety (P < .015) and depression (P < .032) scores compared to controls. All PHQ-4 scores improved in the intervention group except for “Little interest or pleasure in doing things.” Anxiety levels were significantly lower in the intervention group (P < .026) but remained unchanged in controls. The control group exhibited a significant increase in FCR-4 scores at follow-up, differing from the intervention group (P < 0.001). Quality of life scores did not differ at baseline but saw a significant improvement in the intervention group, while the control group experienced no significant change. The intervention group had higher VAS scores (P < .030) and greater health education satisfaction across all dimensions (P < .019). Conclusions The MTM-based mHealth intervention significantly benefits DTC patients by reducing anxiety, fear of cancer recurrence, and improving quality of life, though its effect on depression requires further investigation. Trial registration China Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200064321.
... The predominance of meditation/relaxation techniques and time management suggests that individuals prefer immediate, personal, and practical approaches to coping with stress. Hofmann et al. (2010) found that mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation, effectively reduce stress and enhance psychological well-being [18]. The substantial percentage of individuals seeking social support indicates the critical role of human connections in managing stress. ...
... The predominance of meditation/relaxation techniques and time management suggests that individuals prefer immediate, personal, and practical approaches to coping with stress. Hofmann et al. (2010) found that mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation, effectively reduce stress and enhance psychological well-being [18]. The substantial percentage of individuals seeking social support indicates the critical role of human connections in managing stress. ...
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Background: Bruxism, characterized by teeth grinding or clenching, is a common condition associated with various factors, including stress, anxiety, and psychological distress. University students, in particular, are often subjected to high levels of stress due to academic pressures, clinical training demands, and future career uncertainties. These stressors can exacerbate bruxism symptoms and contribute to its onset or worsening. Objective: Examine the connection between stress levels and teeth grinding (bruxism) among university students.
... The predominance of meditation/relaxation techniques and time management suggests that individuals prefer immediate, personal, and practical approaches to coping with stress. Hofmann et al. [13] found that mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation, effectively reduce stress and enhance psychological well-being [13]. The substantial percentage of individuals seeking social support indicates the critical role of human connections in managing stress. ...
... The predominance of meditation/relaxation techniques and time management suggests that individuals prefer immediate, personal, and practical approaches to coping with stress. Hofmann et al. [13] found that mindfulness-based interventions, including meditation, effectively reduce stress and enhance psychological well-being [13]. The substantial percentage of individuals seeking social support indicates the critical role of human connections in managing stress. ...
Article
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Background: Bruxism, characterized by teeth grinding or clenching, is a common condition associated with various factors, including stress, anxiety, and psychological distress. University students, in particular, are often subjected to high levels of stress due to academic pressures, clinical training demands, and future career uncertainties. These stressors can exacerbate bruxism symptoms and contribute to its onset or worsening. Objective: Examine the connection between stress levels and teeth grinding (bruxism) among university students.
... Studies have demonstrated that mindfulness can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, and enhance overall wellbeing (Khoury et al., 2015). This is achieved through mechanisms such as improved emotional regulation, decreased rumination, and increased self-compassion, which collectively help individuals manage stress more effectively (Hofmann et al., 2010). Mindfulness can serve as a mediator in the relationship between mental health self-stigma and psychological distress. ...
... Mindfulness practices can enhance emotional regulation, reduce stress, and improve overall psychological wellbeing (Gu et al., 2015). Programs such as MBSR and MBCT, which incorporate mindfulness techniques into therapeutic settings, have been shown to effectively reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hofmann et al., 2010). By training individuals to maintain present-moment awareness and adopt a non-judgmental attitude towards their experiences, these programs can help mitigate the impact of self-stigma on mental health (Keng et al., 2011). ...
... In a recent qualitative research conducted, it was discovered that medical students who underwent an eight-week mindfulness training reported significant improvements in their ability to focus, reduced reactivity towards stress, and enhanced skills in managing challenging emotions (Daya & Hearn, 2018). These qualitative findings shed light on the underlying mechanisms that support the quantitative results, emphasizing mindfulness as a practice that fosters self-regulation and stress reduction skills (Hofmann et al., 2010;Hölzel et al., 2011). This study highlights the experiential nature of mindfulness, demonstrating its effectiveness in developing attentional control and emotional well-being among medical students. ...
Research
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Objectives: This study explores the effects of an eight-week mindfulness-based cognitive program on the well-being of university students in Vietnam. Mindfulness-based practices, which emphasize being non-judgmentally aware of the present moment, have shown promise in enhancing well-being and mental health globally. Methods: The research involved 100 participants between the ages of 18 and 25, who were randomly assigned to either the mindfulness intervention group or the control group. The mindfulness program incorporated meditation, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and stress management over eight weeks. Assessment tools included scales measuring well-being and perceived stress, and a mindfulness questionnaire. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a subset of the mindfulness group. Results: The findings revealed notable enhancements in overall well-being and reduction in perceived stress levels among participants who underwent mindfulness training, compared to the control group. Qualitative interviews revealed increased self-awareness, reduced anxiety, improved coping, and enhanced well-being in the mindfulness group. Conclusions: The results highlight the potential effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive practices in mitigating stress and promoting mental health among university students in Vietnam. This research makes a valuable contribution to the literature on mindfulness interventions for students, especially within non-Western cultural contexts.
... Согласно метаисследованиям практика осознанности помогает достичь облегчения при ряде клинических состояний, таких как депрессия [19] и тревога [20], в том числе у раковых больных [21]. Показано, что осознанность связана со снижением стресса [22], руминаций / беспокойства [23], снижением симптомов при хроническом болевом синдроме [24] [34], связанной с онкозаболеваниями утомляемости [35]). ...
Article
Contemplative practices are a wide range of techniques originating from contemplative traditions, incorporating mindfulness, self-regulation and / or self-awareness, embodiment, breathwork, movement-based, and dialogic exercises, and aiming to alter cognitive and emotional processes. Being a part of contemplative practices mindfulness represents one of the fastest growing areas of psychological research and practice. Evidence shows that mindfulness is effective in improving a wide range of biopsychosocial conditions in business, health, and education. The emergence of data on the effectiveness of mindfulness has led to the development of programs and interventions that utilize mindfulness and contemplative practices. In the Russian-speaking scientific community, however, contemplative practices are under-researched. In the field of mindfulness and contemplative practices in whole, there remain some current issues. Although considerable scholarly interest exists, research has largely focused on a narrow range of methods and traditions. Also, in the field of mindfulness, there are a number of important factors that reduce its effectiveness. These include the use of poor methodology, limited samples, insufficient consideration of religious and cultural context, the factor of trauma-informed practice, and the possible negative effects. The article discusses contemplative practices, their prevalence, and challenges, as well as gaps and trends in contemplative studies. Factors complicating the application and possible negative effects of contemplative practices in psychological care and counseling are presented. A perspective on contemporary contemplative interventions is outlined.
... Reduction in Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression: Mindfulness-based interventions have been effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. By fostering a non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings, mindfulness helps break the cycle of rumination and worry (Hofmann et al., 2010). ...
Chapter
This chapter examines the innovative integration of mindfulness and virtual reality (VR) to address grief and emotional loss. It begins by exploring the profound emotional challenges posed by grief and the urgent need for effective therapeutic methods. The chapter emphasizes the potential long-term mental health effects of unresolved grief, underscoring the necessity for novel interventions. Mindfulness, renowned for promoting emotional resilience and healing, is introduced as a crucial technique in this context. When combined with VR, mindfulness practices are transformed, offering immersive and introspective experiences for emotional processing. A detailed case study, “Effects of Mindfulness through Virtual Reality in Women with Recent Significant Emotional Losses,” illustrates the efficacy of VR-based mindfulness interventions. This research demonstrates VR’s unique ability to support individuals through the complexities of emotional loss by providing a flexible, personalized approach to mindfulness. The chapter highlights the adaptability and healing potential of VR, showcasing how it can address diverse emotional needs. By merging mindfulness with VR, a novel therapeutic avenue is presented, offering individuals a path toward emotional renewal and resilience. Ultimately, the chapter envisions a future where VR becomes a fundamental tool in emotional healing, providing solace and support within its immersive landscapes.
... La présence attentive est un mécanisme central impliqué dans les techniques de relaxation, puisqu'elle décrit l'état dans lequel l'individu prête attention aux événements internes et externes au fur et à mesure qu'ils se déroulent, avec ouverture et acceptation (Kabat-Zinn, 2003). Un nombre croissant de recherches a démontré les bienfaits de la présence attentive pour un éventail d'indicateurs de santé psychologique, incluant la réduction des symptômes d'anxiété, de stress et de dépression (Hofmann et al., 2010). La présence attentive permettrait à l'individu d'observer son expérience subjective avec acceptation et bienveillance, ce qui lui permettrait de renforcer sa capacité d'autorégulation (Hill et Updegraff, 2012). ...
Article
L’objectif de cette étude transversale est de comprendre quelles sont les stratégies de récupération permettant d’amoindrir les conséquences négatives des demandes au travail sur le bien-être psychologique des employés en temps de repos. Les résultats de cette étude (n = 114) révèlent que les stratégies de détachement, de relaxation et de contrôle permettent de modérer la relation négative existante entre le conflit de rôle et les affects positifs au repos. Plus encore, les stratégies de détachement et de relaxation permettent également de modérer la relation positive existante entre l’ambiguïté de rôle et les affects négatifs au repos. Les implications pratiques et théoriques de ces résultats pointent vers l’importance de la récupération en temps de repos, pour une meilleure qualité de vie au travail.
... Mindfulness involves the ability to acknowledge one's awareness and focus on the present without judgment [1]. Mindfulness-based treatments have been applied and successful results have been obtained in many psychiatric diseases such as depression [2], attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [3], anxiety [4], schizophrenia [5], and substance use disorders [6]. Many studies show that mindfulness-based treatments can also be effective for eating disorders and obesity [7][8][9]. ...
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Objective To adapt the abbreviated version of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire to Turkish for the Turkish adult population. Methods This cross-sectional study includes 709 participants aged between 18-65 years living in the province of Elazig. The data was collected through a voluntary face-to-face survey. The questionnaire was included their general characteristics and the Mindful Eating Questionnaire -18 and Eating Attitude Test-26. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the validity of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire -18. Statistical analyzes were conducted using the R-Project program and IBM®SPSS® version 26.0. Results The overall content validity index was 0.93. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for the two sub-scales and reduced the abbreviated of Mindful Eating Questionnaire to 18 items. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.718 for the Mindful Eating Questionnaire-18 total factor scores and Cronbach alpha values for awareness, and disinhibition were found to be 0,843 and 0,789, respectively. The minimum discrepancy per degree of freedom=4.914 and the fit indices were at an acceptable level (RMSEA=0.074, CFI=0.934, SRMR=0.079, TLI=0.925, GFI=0.968, AGFI=0.959). Conclusion The findings of study showed that the psychometric properties of the abbreviated Mindful Eating Questionnaire adapted into Turkish were acceptable through construct and internal consistency reliability for adults. Keywords Adaptation; Confirmatory factor analysis; Mindful eating; Reliability; Validity
... 10 As intervenções com Meditação têm mostrado melhorar os resultados de saúde, diminuir a ansiedade, depressão, dificuldades sexuais, estresse e perturbações de sono em variadas patologias. [11][12][13][14][15] Embora ainda haja pouca evidência sobre a utilização de Meditação em pacientes terminais, existem já alguns estudos sobre os seus efeitos benéficos em parâmetros neuroendócrinos, autonómicos e imunitários de pessoas com câncer. [16][17][18][19] Apesar desta tendência crescente, poucos são os estudos que sistematizam a evidência existente acerca do impacto da Meditação no Bem-estar, na QDV e no controlo sintomático em pacientes incuráveis. ...
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Objectives This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the effects of meditation on well-being, quality of life and symptom control in incurable or terminally ill patients. Methods Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched for articles published between January 2012 and December 2022, in English, with Participants- adults with terminal or incurable conditions; Interventions- any kind of meditation; Comparators- any control; Outcomes- well-being, quality of life and symptom control; Design- randomized controlled trials and clinical trials. PRISMA-statement guidelines were followed. Risk of bias was analyzed through Cochrane’s Rob-2 tool. A narrative synthesis of results was done. Results Eight studies were included from three continents: Asia (n=4), Europe (n=2) and América (n=2). Participants were 682, mostly cancer patients. There was a great heterogeneity amongst studies and the overall risk of bias was high. Conclusions Most studies on the effects of meditation in incurable patients showed: 1) more evidence on well-being and suffering; 2) less evidence on quality of life, anxiety and depression; 3) inconsistency in reducing stress. It is essential to invest in more rigorous studies, with larger samples and longer follow-ups that sharpen with greater robustness the contribution of Meditation to health-related outcomes in vulnerable populations. Meditation; Mindfulness; Palliative Care; Quality of Life; Psychological Well-Being
... MBIs have been demonstrated to improve wide-ranging sequelae (e.g. depressive symptoms, QOL, perceived stress) [37,38], with small to moderate (d = 0.32-0.47) effects [35,38]. ...
Article
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Objectives: We tested the feasibility and efficacy of a brief mindfulness-based intervention (bMBI) for adult brain tumor (BT) survivors experiencing elevated depressive symptoms. Specifically, we examined whether there are improvements in mental health symptoms (i.e. depressive symptoms, quality of life (QOL),mental wellbeing, perceived stress) among participants at post-intervention. Methods: Nineteen BT survivors participated in a five-session, in-person, group-based bMBI intervention. Data on attendance, depressive symptoms, QOL, mental well-being, and perceived stress were collected at three timepoints. Findings: The preliminary analysis supports that this bMBI: (a) was efficacious in decreasing depressive symptoms and perceived stress, as well as increasing mental well-being and QOL, and (b) was feasible, with a retention rate greater than 70% and an attendance rate greater than 80% for adult BT survivors.Conclusions: These findings lend support for a feasible and efficacious sintervention for adult BT survivors experiencing elevated depressive symptomsImplications: With the paucity of psychosocial interventions targeting adult BTsurvivorship, future empirically rigorous studies for this population are warranted. The uptake/adoption of this bMBI by psychosocial providers may play an important role in improving the mental health and QOL of adult BT survivors.
... Given the sample size of this study, we calculated Hedges's g, which is a variant of Cohen's d that corrects for the biases associated with small sample sizes(Andrade, 2020;Hedges, 1981;Hedges & Olkin, 2014). Hedges's g can be interpreted in the same way as Cohen's d: a small effect size (0.2), a medium effect size (0.5), and a large effect size (0.8)(Cohen, 2013;Hofmann et al., 2010). ...
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Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) frequently involves an intricate, extensive epileptic frontal‐temporal network. This study aimed to investigate the interactions between temporal and frontal regions and the dynamic patterns of the frontal‐temporal network in TLE patients with different disease durations. The magnetoencephalography data of 36 postoperative seizure‐free patients with long‐term follow‐up of at least 1 year, and 21 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy subjects were included in this study. Patients were initially divided into LONG‐TERM (n = 18, DURATION >10 years) and SHORT‐TERM (n = 18, DURATION ≤10 years) groups based on 10‐year disease duration. For reliability, supplementary analyses were conducted with alternative cutoffs, creating three groups: 0 < DURATION ≤7 years (n = 11), 7 < DURATION ≤14 years (n = 11), and DURATION >14 years (n = 14). This study examined the intraregional phase‐amplitude coupling (PAC) between theta phase and alpha amplitude across the whole brain. The interregional directed phase transfer entropy (dPTE) between frontal and temporal regions in the alpha and theta bands, and the interregional cross‐frequency directionality (CFD) between temporal and frontal regions from the theta phase to the alpha amplitude were further computed and compared among groups. Partial correlation analysis was conducted to investigate correlations between intraregional PAC, interregional dPTE connectivity, interregional CFD, and disease duration. Whole‐brain intraregional PAC analyses revealed enhanced theta phase‐alpha amplitude coupling within the ipsilateral temporal and frontal regions in TLE patients, and the ipsilateral temporal PAC was positively correlated with disease duration (r = 0.38, p <.05). Interregional dPTE analyses demonstrated a gradual increase in frontal‐to‐temporal connectivity within the alpha band, while the direction of theta‐band connectivity reversed from frontal‐to‐temporal to temporal‐to‐frontal as the disease duration increased. Interregional CFD analyses revealed that the inhibitory effect of frontal regions on temporal regions gradually increased with prolonged disease duration (r = −0.36, p <.05). This study clarified the intrinsic reciprocal connectivity between temporal and frontal regions with TLE duration. We propose a dynamically reorganized triple‐stage network that transitions from balanced networks to constrained networks and further develops into imbalanced networks as the disease duration increases.
... Dans le contexte du rôle de plus en plus identifié des distorsions cognitives dans des troubles tels que l'anxiété et la dépression (Maurya & Sharma, 2019;Mercan et al., 2023;Nasir et al., 2010;Norman et al., 1983), et des bienfaits et de l'efficacité des interventions intégrant la pleine conscience (Alsubaie et al., 2017;Chambers et al., 2008;Eberth & Sedlmeier, 2012;Erisman & Roemer, 2010;Gu et al., 2015;Hofmann et al., 2010;Khoury et al., 2013) ...
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Les pensées négatives lors de situations difficiles sont souvent des distorsions cognitives, fréquemment associées à des troubles psychiques tels que l'anxiété et la dépression. Comprendre ces distorsions pourrait offrir des solutions pour améliorer notre bien-être. Les interventions basées sur la pleine conscience présentent également des solutions prometteuses, mais leur lien avec les distorsions cognitives est peu étudié. Aussi, les différences liées à l'âge et au genre sont peu explorées et les conclusions divergent. Notre étude, menée sur une population non-clinique de 242 adultes explore les liens entre distorsions cognitives, pleine conscience, âge et genre. Nos résultats confirment une corrélation négative significative entre les distorsions cognitives et la pleine conscience et des différences liées à l'âge et au genre : les plus jeunes ont plus de distorsions, tandis que la pleine conscience augmente avec l'âge, surtout chez les femmes. Pour ce qui est de l’effet du genre, les femmes présentent plus de distorsions cognitives que les hommes, mais cet effet s’estompe avec l'âge. Aucune relation significative n'a été trouvée entre le genre et la pleine conscience. Une réplication de cette étude pourrait éclairer les différences individuelles en matière de distorsions cognitives et de pleine conscience, et ainsi soutenir les interventions thérapeutiques de patients cliniques ainsi que des initiatives psycho-éducatives visant la population adulte non clinique.
... Estudos mostram que intervenções em grupo podem ser tão eficazes quanto as terapias individuais, oferecendo uma alternativa viável e potencialmente mais acessível. A combinação de práticas mente-corpo com elementos de apoio grupal pode amplificar os benefícios terapêuticos, proporcionando uma redução significativa na ansiedade e melhorando o bem-estar geral dos pacientes [27][28][29]. ...
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Introdução: O Brasil é considerado um dos países com o maior número de ansiosos no mundo, após a pandemia esse índice aumentou de forma preocupante, pressionando lideranças a investirem em técnicas de autocuidado. O estresse no ambiente universitário motivou a criação do projeto de extensão “Calma na crise para estudantes e comunidade”. Objetivo: Relatar a experiência do projeto com alunos da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa e a comunidade local. Métodos: Foram ensinadas técnicas de relaxamento, segundo a metodologia Saúde Integral Mente-Corpo, desenvolvida pelo Instituto Visão Futuro, para universitários aplicarem para si e compartilharem com a comunidade. Resultados: No ano de 2023 foram capacitados dois grupos de universitários e as comunidades atendidas foram o Recanto Maria Dolores e o Centro Pop. Como resultado principal temos a compreensão dos estudantes sobre a relação direta entre o autocuidado e o altruísmo no gerenciamento do estresse, a importância do trabalho em grupos para o fortalecimento de vínculos e a criação de espaço seguro para perpetuação de boas práticas no cuidado da saúde mental. Conclusão: A equipe executora e a coordenação do projeto ficaram satisfeitas com os resultados. O desafio de aliviar o estresse na comunidade, promovendo benefícios conjuntos para alunos da UEPG, foi alcançado. Em 2024, buscamos expandir para outros cursos, aumentando a participação e promovendo maior impacto na qualidade de vida da comunidade interna e externa à universidade.
... So far, according to the research background, various methods have been used to improve the mental state of general health and life quality. Methods such as the integrated approach of emotion-oriented reality therapy, therapy based on acceptance and commitment [11,19], and cognitive behavioral therapy [20] are among these cases. Among the methods that can affect the mental state of patients with chronic disorders such as hypothyroidism, is the Mindfulness-Based Treatment (MBT) method invented by Fonagy and Bateman, which according to researchers' searches has been effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress and increasing the life quality of women with hypothyroidism have not been investigated [21]. ...
... Although psychological interventions like behavioral activation (BA) (e.g., Cuijpers et al., 2007) or mindfulness (e.g., Hofmann et al., 2010) are well-researched, the differential effects on reward sensitivity are seldom investigated. BA could foster reward sensitivity by implementing positive reinforcers and helps increase the availability of rewards (Craske et al., 2016;Renner et al., 2017;Nagy et al., 2020;Kryza-Lacombe et al., 2021). ...
... Over the past decades, MBIs have been shown with a wide range of clinical effects on reducing psychopathology and improving mental health (Boyd et al., 2018;Hofmann & Gómez, 2017;Hofmann et al., 2010;Ogino et al., 2024;Spijkerman et al., 2016;Teasdale et al., 2000). MBIs cultivate several psychological traits or cognitive styles that can be beneficial for healing from psychological trauma (Boyd et al., 2018;Foa et al., 2008;Zainal et al., 2024), for example: (1) present moment mindful awareness facilitates conscious attentional control, which can reduce attention bias towards negative stimuli and emotions; (2) the "nonjudgmental" mentality cultivated through mindfulness meditation promotes openness, acceptance, and compassion towards distressing internal experiences; (3) applying mindfulness to daily life enables "non-reactivity" to stressors, which eventually facilitates fear extinction (Kummar, 2018). ...
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Objectives Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to be beneficial for young adults with adverse childhood experiences (ACE), but the temporal course of the therapeutic effects is still not well understood. This study aimed to investigate MBI-induced weekly changes and long-term effects in trait mindfulness and psychological symptoms. Method This study analyzed longitudinal data from a mechanistic clinical trial in which young adults (aged 21–35) with ACE were randomized to an 8-week MBI or an active control condition of Stress Management Education (SME), with 21 and 19 completers, respectively. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Kellner’s Symptom Questionnaire (KSQ) were administered before, after, and weekly during the 8-week interventions, and at 6-, 12-, and 18-months follow-up. Data analyses were conducted with linear mixed effects models, Granger causality, and dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM). Results Group by time interaction effects were observed with PSS, MAAS, KSQ-depression, KSQ-hostility, and KSQ-anxiety with small effect sizes. Only in the MBI group, increases of MAAS scores predicted reductions of PSS, KSQ-somatization, and KSQ-hostility scores. MAAS score reached significant increase at the end of MBI, and most MBI-induced symptom reduction lasted 12 months without refresher courses. Conclusions MBI demonstrated unique effects of trait mindfulness improvement leading to psychological symptom reductions. At least 8 weeks of MBI program duration and refreshment at 12 months may be necessary for ACE survivors. Preregistration This study is not preregistered.
... En la última década se han realizado varios estudios de meta análisis que proveen mayor información sobre el tamaño del efecto de los resultados mencionados. Por ejemplo, un estudio mostró efectos moderados de la meditación de atención plena en reducción de síntomas de ansiedad y de estado de ánimo en poblaciones con enfermedades somáticas como cáncer, diabetes y fatiga crónica (Hofmann et al., 2010). Este mismo meta análisis mostró un tamaño del efecto más grande al evaluar el uso de la meditación de atención plena en el tratamiento directo de trastornos de ansiedad y desórdenes del ánimo, (Hedges'g) de .95 ...
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RESUMEN Se ha encontrado que el programa MBSR (Kabat-Zinn 2013) es efectivo reduciendo síntomas de ansiedad y de estrés en diversas poblaciones. El objetivo de éste estudio piloto fue evaluar la viabilidad, aceptación e impacto de una intervención grupal adaptada culturalmente para estudiantes universitarios predominantemente puertorriqueños. Se formaron dos grupos de participantes (n=13) los que se reunieron por espacio de ocho semanas. Cada reunión tuvo una duración de 90 minutos en las que se enseñaron y practicaron estrategias de atención plena y se asignaron ejercicios de práctica diaria para el hogar. Se tomaron medidas pre y post para medir las siguientes variables: estrés académico, depresión y ansiedad generalizada (CCAPS-34), afecto positivo y negativo (PANAS), atención plena (MAAS), estrés percibido (EEP-14), así como bienestar psicológico (EBP). Los estudiantes evaluaron de manera positiva el programa y ofrecieron recomendaciones para mejorarlo. Se observó un aumento significativo en atención plena (z=-2.71, p<.007), en afecto positivo en la semana (z=-2.98, p<.003), auto aceptación (z=-1.96, p<.05) y en propósito en la vida (z=-2.17, p< .03). También se observó una disminución significativa en ansiedad generalizada (z=-2.28, p<.02) y estrés académico (z=-2.49, p<.01). EMMA muestra ser una herramienta grupal viable y aceptada por estudiantes universitarios en Puerto Rico y que ofrece resultados favorables para reducción de ansiedad generalizada y estrés académico. ABSTRACT The MBSR program (Kabat-Zinn, 2013) has been studied and demonstrated effective for reducing stress and anxiety symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability, acceptance and impact of a culturally adapted group intervention for predominantly Puerto Rican college students. Two intervention groups (n=13), met for 8 weeks. In each 90 minutes group meetings, mindfulness strategies were instructed and practiced by participants and daily practices were assigned for the week. Pre and post measures were taken for generalized anxiety, depression, and academic stress (CCAPS-34), perceived stress (EEP-14), positive and negative affect (PANAS), mindfulness (MAAS) and psychological well-being (EBP). The intervention was evaluated in a positive way and participants gave recommendations for its improvement. A significant increase was observed in mindfulness (z =-2.71, p <0.007), weekly positive affect (z =-2.98, p <0.003), auto acceptance (z =-1.96, p <0.05) and purpose in life (z =-2.17, p <0.007). A significant decrease in generalized anxiety (z =-2.28, p <0.02) and academic stress (z =-2.49, p <0.01) was also observed. EMMA is shown to be a viable and accepted group intervention for university students in Puerto Rico and it offers favorable outcomes in reducing generalized anxiety and academic stress.
... However, there is some evidence that mindfulness-based therapy can help reduce anxiety and improve performance on exams. One study found that mindfulness-based therapy was effective in reducing anxiety and depression in a group of patients (Hofmann et al., 2010). The study found that the patients who received mindfulness-based therapy had significantly lower levels of anxiety and depression than those who did not receive the therapy. ...
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What are the effects of the construct of mindfulness on the stress levels of college students? It is no secret that college can be a stressful time. Between exams, papers, and social obligations, it is easy for students to feel overwhelmed. In recent years, however, mindfulness has been gaining popularity as a way to manage stress. Researchers have been investigating the effects of mindfulness on stress levels in college students, and the results have been promising. The definition of Mindfulness: The state or quality of being aware; attention; needfulness; intention, and purpose.
... Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI)-such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy (MBCT) have received considerable attention in the last decades because of emerging evidence regarding their efficacy in the treatment of depression [7][8][9][10][11]. The effects of MBCT on reduction of depressive symptoms and relapse prophylaxis are comparable to those of other cognitive behavioural therapies [12][13][14][15] and showed favourable effects, if used as adjunct therapy to a treatment as usual (TAU) [16][17][18][19]. ...
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Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are effective in relapse prevention in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Internet-based interventions have been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of MDD. Consequently, the integration of MBI through mobile applications emerges as a promising supplementary intervention for MDD, contributing to the augmentation of mental health services, particularly within ambulatory care contexts. The current randomized controlled study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive MBI delivered via a mobile app in mitigating symptom severity and stress levels. This assessment involves a comparison with standard treatment practices in an ambulatory setting among individuals diagnosed with MDD. A total of 83 patients diagnosed with MDD (depressive episode, recurrent depression or depressive phase of bipolar disorder) were randomly allocated to the intervention (41 patients) or control condition (42 patients). The intervention consisted of the daily use of the mindfulness mobile application “Headspace” for thirty days. The control condition was treatment as usual (TAU) only. The symptom severity has been assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) as well as the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17). Blood pressure and resting heart rate have been assessed as secondary outcome. Upon hospital discharge, the mean scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) signaled partial remission of MDD in both treatment arms. In both groups, a subsequent decrease in both self-reported and expert-rated scores was evident after a 30-day period. However, the decrease in depression severity as measured by HDRS was significantly higher in the MBI group compared to the control group after 30 days. For secondary outcomes, systolic blood pressure was lower in the intervention group compared to control group. The total drop-out rate was 29%. Short term mindfulness intervention via mobile application (30 days) can be beneficial as adjunctive therapy to treatment as usual in patients with MDD.
... Moreover, mindfulness modulates emotional reactivity, enhancing emotion regulation and reducing anxiety responses [41,42]. Studies supported MBIs' efficacy across various anxiety disorders [43,44], and meta-analyses show moderate to large effects in reducing anxiety symptoms [45,46]. Acceptance and mindfulness-based interventions improve anxiety and depression outcomes through various mediators, including mindfulness skills and self-compassion [47]. ...
... Trait mindfulness is distinct from the Big Five traits, although it seems to be more closely related negatively to neuroticism and positively to conscientiousness [7,8,[10][11][12][13][14]. As noted by Kiken et al. [15], trait mindfulness can be developed with the use of a range of interventions based on mindfulness practices, which brings about positive implications for mental health. Among individuals undergoing such interventions, a significant reduction in the symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as an improvement in quality of life have been noted in both clinical and non-clinical samples [3,5,[16][17][18][19]. Individuals with higher levels of trait mindfulness better cope with stress and show higher levels of subjective well-being [7,10,19,20]. ...
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(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate whether yoga practice and physical activity level play an essential role in trait mindfulness and perceived stress reduction. Moreover, the study examined the differences in trait mindfulness and perceived stress between women who practiced yoga and those who engaged in other physical activities or were physically inactive, taking into account the time spent on physical activity in accordance with the World Health Organization recommendations. (2) Methods: A sample of 201 women participated in a cross-sectional online-based study, including 96 yoga practitioners and 105 non-practitioners of yoga (including physically active and inactive individuals). The average age of the participants was 36 years (range, 18–72 years; M = 36.19, SD = 11.64). Respondents completed the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). (3) Results: Women who practiced yoga and were physically active had a significantly higher level of trait mindfulness and lower perceived stress levels than women who did not practice yoga and were physically inactive. An indirect effect of physical activity on perceived stress through mindfulness was shown only for women practicing yoga for at least 150 min per week. (4) Conclusions: This study revealed the importance of frequent yoga practice in reducing perceived stress and improving mindfulness traits. These findings may serve as a basis for implementing preventive actions in women experiencing high levels of everyday stress.
... There are a variety of interventions on mindfulness meditation to reduce symptoms associated with depression, which include mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), yoga, combined with rTMS and online programs 48,55,86 . Our result is similar to previous research that meditation can be combined with other interventions to reduce depression symptoms [87][88][89] . MBSR and MBCT are the most frequently used interventions in mindfulness meditation for alleviating depression symptoms, as indicated by their utilization in many research articles 61,64,[65][66][67][68][69]71,75,[78][79][80][82][83][84]86 . ...
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Currently, 280 million people worldwide experience depression, ranking it third in the global burden of disease. The incidence of depression has risen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it essential to examine evidence-based practices in reducing depressive symptoms during this unprecedented time. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to analyze randomized controlled trials during the COVID-19 pandemic that evaluated the effect of mindfulness meditation on depressive symptoms in individuals with depression. Four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched in November 2023 using search terms including meditation, mindfulness, depression, and depressive symptoms. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 software (Cochrane Collaboration). A random model and Standard Mean Difference analysis with 95% CIs were used for continuous variables. The systematic review included 26 RCT studies. The meta-analysis showed significant effects of mindfulness meditation interventions (SMD = − 1.14; 95% CI − 1.45 to − 0.83; P < 0.001) in reducing depressive symptoms compared to comparison groups. The findings suggest a positive effect of mindfulness meditation on depressive symptoms in individuals with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.
... Multiple studies and meta-analyses (e.g., Bishop et al., 2004;K. W. Brown & Ryan, 2004;Chiesa & Malinowski, 2011;Chiesa & Serretti, 2009;Eberth & Sedlmeier, 2012;Goyal et al., 2014;Gu et al., 2015;Hofmann et al., 2010;Jayawardene et al., 2017;Khoury et al., 2013;Parsons et al., 2017) have documented the mental health and well-being benefits of mindfulness (e.g., stress reduction, decrease likelihood of depression relapse, anxiety reduction, decrease in obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and substance use, and improved wellbeing). Furthermore, studies that have independently assessed the two dimensions, attention monitoring and acceptance, have revealed that acceptance only has an effect on psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety and that attention monitoring alone, without the acceptance dimension, could increase anxiety (e.g., D. B. Brown et al., 2015;Kohls et al., 2009;Lindsay & Creswell, 2017). ...
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De nombreux concepts comme les compétences émotionnelles, la régulation émotionnelle, l’acceptation, la tolérance à la détresse, l’évitement expérientiel, la décentration et l’autorégulation de l’attention s’inscrivent dans un même réseau nomologique et sont au cœur des approches de pleine conscience et d’acceptation. De précédentes études ont démontré l’association de ces concepts à la santé mentale et plus particulièrement aux troubles anxieux et dépressifs, ainsi qu’au bien-être. Cependant, ils ont rarement été comparés les uns aux autres pour évaluer leur pertinence et leur caractère prédictif respectifs. Comme l’acceptation semble constituer le processus central et actif des approches de pleine conscience et d’acceptation, nous avons émis l’hypothèse selon laquelle chaque concept serait lié de manière indépendante à la santé mentale, et l’acceptation serait celui ayant la plus grande influence. Un total de 321 participants recrutés au sein de la population générale francophone, non clinique, ont rempli de manière anonyme des échelles d’anxiété, de dépression, de bien-être, de compétences émotionnelles, de régulation émotionnelle, d’acceptation, de tolérance à la détresse, d’évitement expérientiel, de décentration et d’autorégulation de l’attention. Des analyses de régression multiples hiérarchiques ont été menées afin d’évaluer et comparer le caractère prédictif de ces concepts. Nos résultats ont démontré que l’acceptation était le meilleur prédicteur de l’anxiété (B = −0,34, p < 0,001), de la dépression (B = −0,36, p < 0,001) et du bien-être (B = 0,40, p < 0,001), par rapport à tous les autres facteurs évalués. Contrairement à l’acceptation, l’évitement expérientiel ne permettait pas de prédire la santé mentale dans les modèles incluant tous les autres prédicteurs. Ainsi, l’acceptation serait le meilleur prédicteur de la santé mentale et du bien-être, donnant encore plus de poids à l’influence majeure qu’elle exerce sur les troubles émotionnels et le bien-être. De plus, nos résultats suggèrent que l’acceptation et l’évitement expérientiel seraient des concepts distincts. En outre, les modèles de médiation démontrent que l’autorégulation de l’attention et la décentration semblent jouer le rôle de compétences intermédiaires vers l’acceptation.
... In light of these findings, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to consider anhedonia when assessing and treating patients with chronic itch. This may involve the use of targeted psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy or mindfulness-based approaches, which have been shown to be effective in reducing anhedonia and improving psychological wellbeing in various clinical populations (28,39). Also, there is a possibility worth exploring: that improving itch by treating the disease could improve anhedonia. ...
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Anhedonia, the reduced ability to experience pleasure, is a prevalent symptom in various psychiatric disorders, but has not been investigated in dermatological conditions, particularly those characterized by chronic itch. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and clinical correlates of anhedonia in patients with chronic itch. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 137 patients with chronic itch, classified according to the International Forum for the Study of Itch (IFSI) classification. Anhedonia was assessed using the Snaith–Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) and Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS). Itch severity, quality of life, and psychological distress were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Verbal Rating Scale (VRS), ItchyQoL, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. The mean SHAPS score was 1.0 ± 1.7 points, and the mean ACIPS total score was 76.9 ± 16.2 points. In the study sample, 13.1% of patients were identified as anhedonic, with a higher prevalence observed in those with severe and very severe itch. Anhedonia was significantly correlated with itch severity (R = 0.2, p=0.02 for 24 h VASmean and SHAPS; R = 0.2, p = 0.01 for 24 h VASmax and SHAPS), anxiety symptoms (R = 0.3, p < 0.001 for SHAPS and HADS-anxiety), depression symptoms (R = 0.4, p < 0.001 for SHAPS and HADS-depression), and impairment in quality of life (R = 0.2, p = 0.014 for SHAPS and ItchyQoL). Anhedonia is a significant and prevalent aspect of psychological distress in patients with chronic itch. Addressing this symptom may not only improve patients’ overall mental health but also enhance the effectiveness of treatments for chronic itch. Future research is needed to elucidate further the mechanisms underlying the relationship between anhedonia and chronic itch and to develop targeted interventions for this population.
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This secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial assesses patient-reported anxiety, depression, and quality of life among patients receiving mindfulness-based stress reduction vs escitalopram for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
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Introduction Resilience is the dynamic adaptive process of maintaining or recovering mental health from stressors, such as trauma, challenging life circumstances, critical transitions, or physical illnesses. Resilience after adversity can be fostered through protective factors and the implementation of interventions that promote resilience. Hence, it is essential to investigate both protective and vulnerable factors to reduce the negative effects of unfavorable life events and increase resilience through positive risk-response interventions. Objective To assess the effect of previous adversity, protecting factors, and resilience-promoting interventions to possess resilience after adversity in a global context. Methods The study included English language articles sourced from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and Google Scholar published before 15 April 2024. These articles reported the effect of adversity, protecting factors, and/or resilience-promoting interventions to possess resilience after adversity in a global context without a population age limitation. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews. A weighted inverse-variance random-effects model was applied to find the pooled estimates. The subgroup analysis, heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis were also assessed. Results A total of 44 articles (n = 556,920 participants) were included in this umbrella review. From the random-effects model analysis, the pooled effect of adversity on the development of resilience was 0.25 (p < 0.001). The pooled effects of adversity-protective factors and resilience-promoting interventions after adversity were 0.31 (p < 0.001) and 0.42 (p < 0.001), respectively. The pooled effects of specific adversity protective factors were 0.26, 0.09, 0.05, 0.34, 0.23, and 0.43 for the availability of support, cognitive ability, community cohesion, positive self-perception, religious involvement, and self-regulation, respectively. The pooled effects of specific resilience-promoting interventions were 0.30, 0.21, 0.51, and 0.52 for cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) interventions, mindfulness-based interventions, mixed interventions, and resilience-promoting interventions, respectively. Conclusion The findings of this umbrella review revealed that people who experienced early adversity can develop resilience later in life. The study highlights the need to consider adversity protective factors, such as availability of support (family, friends, and school), cognitive ability, community cohesion, positive self-perception, religious involvement, and self-regulation, and resilience-promoting interventions, including CBT interventions, mindfulness-based interventions, and mixed interventions, to enhance resilience promotion programs.
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This chapter delves into the scientific underpinnings of mindfulness, showcasing its transformative effects on mental and physical health through neural mechanisms and empirical research. It explores how mindfulness practices influence key brain networks, including the Default Mode, Salience, and Central Executive Networks, promoting neural coherence and enhancing attentional control. The chapter highlights mindfulness’s ability to modulate the limbic system, fostering improved emotional regulation and reducing stress responses. Additionally, it outlines the positive impacts of mindfulness on attention, demonstrating increased cognitive flexibility and reduced distractibility. The clinical benefits of mindfulness are emphasized, with evidence supporting its efficacy in managing pain, anxiety, and stress-related hormonal responses. By integrating mindfulness into healthcare, individuals can cultivate resilience, empathy, and a more compassionate approach to both self-care and patient care, leading to improved overall well-being and quality of life.
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Impactful, high-quality, and innovative research in intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is built upon rigorous research methods. Different from those commonly used in the study of a general, neurotypical sample, there are unique issues, challenges, and opportunities in IDD research methods. Here, we briefly reviewed common IDD research methods including ethical considerations, and discussed common challenges to the research process together with strategies to address them. IDD research presents critical opportunities to impact the IDD community directly and indirectly. For instance, participants with IDD and their family/caretakers could be involved as research partners, an approach called participatory research that has been gaining popularity in the field. IDD research results can and should be implemented into practice and policy decision-making to better the IDD community and the broader society. Finally, we considered future directions in IDD research methods.
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Background There was a marked decline in child and teenage mental health worldwide during the pandemic, with increasing prevalence of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Research indicates that positive psychological interventions may be beneficial for mental health. Objective The aims of this review were to evaluate positive psychological interventions for child and youth mental health implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess overall effectiveness for mental health and knowledge. Methods We undertook a literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for all eligible studies on digital and hybrid in-person psychological interventions for youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. A particular emphasis was placed on positive psychological interventions or interventions that had components of positive psychology, including gratitude, acceptance, positive emotions, or resilience building. Results A total of 41 interventions were included in this review. Most of the interventions were digital. Overall, most of the interventions assisted with one or more mental health or psychological indicators, such as depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress, and resilience. However, findings were mixed when it came to targeting both depression and anxiety together. The interventions that promoted youth mental health most often had a range of diverse positive psychology components and were evidence based. Not all studies measured changes in mindfulness. Few studies examined knowledge acquired on mental health self-care, managing mental health problems, knowledge of positive psychological techniques, mindfulness knowledge, or mental health self-efficacy. Conclusions Diverse multicomponent interventions appear to assist with youth mental health overall, although their effects on both depression and anxiety are less clear. There is also a need for more research on knowledge gains to determine whether the interventions improved knowledge on mental health–supportive behaviors, which may be sustained beyond the intervention. Finally, more studies need to evaluate whether the interventions assisted with increasing self-efficacy for practicing positive psychological techniques as well as changes in mindfulness levels. Future studies should not only assess effectiveness for mental health outcomes but also assess knowledge translation, with valid measures of knowledge and self-efficacy for mental health–supportive behaviors and positive psychological skills acquired (eg, the ability to practice mindfulness).
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Dieses Buch untersucht die komplexen und facettenreichen Beziehungen zwischen Leid und Wachstum durch die Linse der psychischen Widerstandsfähigkeit. Ziel ist es, ein tiefgehendes Verständnis der Mechanismen zu entwickeln, die es Individuen ermöglichen, durch Herausforderungen gestärkt hervorzugehen. Anhand theoretischer Konzepte, empirischer Studien und praktischer Beispiele wird beleuchtet, wie Willenskraft, Disziplin und soziale Unterstützung zur Resilienz beitragen und wie diese Fähigkeiten durch verschiedene Lebensbereiche hindurch Anwendung finden. Besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird der Rolle von Coping-Strategien, Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Stressbewältigung und Suchtprävention gewidmet. Durch eine integrative Perspektive, die biologische, psychologische und soziale Faktoren berücksichtigt, bietet das Buch umfassende Einblicke und praktische Ansätze zur Förderung der psychischen Widerstandsfähigkeit und des persönlichen Wachstums.
Chapter
When we start with a practice-first approach, we are stepping into the unknown; we do not have a map; instead, we notice, connect with, feel and make sense of the territory as we journey along the path. Thus, this chapter addresses the broad policy themes of emotion and kindness. It deliberately and purposefully aims to reflect that way of travelling a practice-first journey with the aim of being compassionate in a higher educational setting. It is a chapter of questions, curiosity and stories where the reader is invited to engage with an active dialogical attitude. However, the chapter also provides the reader with a map to aid practice using Johns’ six dialogical movements’ reflective narrative methodological framework. The chapter deliberately aims to shine a light on university practices that could be seen as both compassionate and uncompassionate depending on the lens and position through which one is viewing. The chapter explores, through reflective narrative, some of the conflicting raison d’etre by those who inhabit higher education. Ultimately, the chapter is intended as a potential cartography guide for individuals and policymakers as they embark on a practice-first approach to being and becoming a compassionate citizen in higher education and beyond.
Article
As a past recipient of the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Bernard Fox Memorial Award, on the occasion of IPOS' 40th anniversary, Dr. Carlson reflects on the development, evaluation, and uptake of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) over the past 25 years as an example of a psychosocial oncology intervention that has moved from a complementary therapy generally outside of conventional medicine to a therapy endorsed in mainstream clinical practice guidelines. She summarizes the literature on MBIs for people with cancer and her team's contributions to the body of science now supporting the use of MBIs and reviews recent clinical practice guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, which include recommendations for the use of MBIs for treating common symptoms in people with cancer including anxiety, depression, and fatigue as an example of a process that IPOS may support for other promising programs.
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This review summarizes the current meta-analysis literature on treatment outcomes of CBT for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. A search of the literature resulted in a total of 16 methodologically rigorous meta-analyses. Our review focuses on effect sizes that contrast outcomes for CBT with outcomes for various control groups for each disorder, which provides an overview of the effectiveness of cognitive therapy as quantified by meta-analysis. Large effect sizes were found for CBT for unipolar depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, and childhood depressive and anxiety disorders. Effect sizes for CBT of marital distress, anger, childhood somatic disorders, and chronic pain were in the moderate range. CBT was somewhat superior to antidepressants in the treatment of adult depression. CBT was equally effective as behavior therapy in the treatment of adult depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Large uncontrolled effect sizes were found for bulimia nervosa and schizophrenia. The 16 meta-analyses we reviewed support the efficacy of CBT for many disorders. While limitations of the meta-analytic approach need to be considered in interpreting the results of this review, our findings are consistent with other review methodologies that also provide support for the efficacy CBT.
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The use of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programmes has become increasingly common in many healthcare settings over the last decade. However, the use and indications for MBSR in an oncology setting has not been well explicated. This paper provides an overview of the psychosocial challenges of cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery, followed by a description of how MBSR programmes have and may be used with cancer populations, using our programme in Calgary, Canada, as an exemplar. Research investigating the use of MBSR shows significant improvements in mood, decreased stress symptoms, and normalisation of hormonal and immune function. MBSR has also been shown to be effective for decreasing the high levels of sleep disturbance often found in cancer patients. An instrument to measure levels of mindfulness, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), has been developed and validated for use with cancer patients. Issues germane to working with this population such as considerations during patient screening for the MBSR programme and facilitatory training are discussed. Finally, the use of research designs such as dismantling studies and qualitative methods are considered.
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Research on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002a) has supported the effectiveness of this approach for use with preventing relapse in recurrent depression. This study evaluated the use of MBCT in a heterogeneous sample of 26 psychiatric outpatients with mood and/or anxiety disorders. Results from both completer and intent to treat analyses showed that MBCT was associated with statistically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia symptoms. Rates of clinically significant improvement were comparable with effectiveness studies of cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction in heterogeneous samples. It is concluded that MBCT may be of value for a range of psychological presentations, administered in heterogeneous groups. Future, controlled, research is required to further evaluate this conclusion and to investigate mechanisms of change.
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A new treatment for social phobia is evaluated: mindfulness training and task concentration training. The treatment consisted of nine sessions of 45–60 minutes and was administered individually. Nine severely socially phobic patients participated. No changes in complaints were observed during the waiting-list period. One patient withdrew during the treatment. Results show that treatment was well accepted and highly effective in reducing social phobia, and results were maintained at a 2-month follow-up. Effects of the treatment were most pronounced on Fear of Negative Evaluation and on the self-ideal discrepancy. Attention as well as cognitive changes may be responsible for the effectiveness. Explanations for the effects and clinical implications are discussed.
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Presents alternative conclusions for meta-analyses by D. W. Johnson et al (see record 1981-05387-001) that emphasize interactions between reward systems and situational variables. It is proposed that the effectiveness of a particular reward system in stimulating productivity and achievement will depend on situational variables; no single reward system will always be better than another. The vulnerabilities of meta-analyses are discussed. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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The development, reliability, and discriminative ability of a new instrument to assess social phobia are presented. The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) is an empirically derived instrument incorporating responses from the cognitive, somatic, and behavioral dimensions of social fear. The SPAI high test–retest reliability and good internal consistency. The instrument appears to be sensitive to the entire continuum of socially anxious concerns and is capable of differentiating social phobics from normal controls as well as from other anxiety patients. The utility of this instrument for improved assessment of social phobia and anxiety and its use as an aid for treatment planning are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Describes the development of a scale to assess individual differences in self-consciousness. Construction of the scale involved testing the 38 initial items with 130 female and 82 male undergraduates. A principal components factor analysis of the data yielded 3 factors accounting for 43% of the variance: Private Self-Consciousness, Public Self-Consciousness, and Social Anxiety. The final version of the scale, which contained 23 items, was administered to several groups of undergraduates (N = 668) to obtain norms, test-retest (2 wks), subscale correlation, and reliability data. Test-retest reliabilities were .84 for the Public Self-Consciousness scale, .79 for the Private Self-Consciousness scale, .73 for the Social Anxiety scale, and .80 for the total score. Public Self-Consciousness correlated moderately with both Private Self-Consciousness and Social Anxiety, while the correlation of Private Self-Consciousness with Social Anxiety fluctuated around zero. No sex differences in scores were observed. Implications for research and therapy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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The number of cancer patients seeking complementary mind-body therapies has increased within recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based stress reduction and relaxation program (MBSR) on stress, state anxiety, mental adjustment to cancer, and health locus of control in 27 women with diagnosed breast cancer. Findings indicated significant decreases in pre-to-post stress and state anxiety levels; also, results showed significant and beneficial changes for mental adjustment to cancer and health locus of control scores following completion of the MBSR intervention. These results provide initial support for the application of mindfulness-based interventions to individuals struggling with the stress and threat of cancer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
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Objective: This paper, composed by an interest group of clinicians and researchers based in Melbourne, presents some background to the practice of mindfulness-based therapies as relevant to the general professional reader. We address the empirical evidence for these therapies, the principles through which they might operate, some practical questions facing those wishing to commence practice in this area or to refer patients into mindfulness-based therapies, and some considerations relevant to the conduct and interpretation of research into the therapeutic application of mindfulness. Method: Databases ( e. g. PsycINFO, MEDLINE) were searched for literature on the impact of mindfulness interventions, and the psychological and biological mechanisms that underpin the effects of mindfulness practice. This paper also draws upon the clinical experience of the author group. Results: Mindfulness practice and principles have their origins in many contemplative and philosophical traditions but individuals can effectively adopt the training and practice of mindfulness in the absence of such traditions or vocabulary. A recent surge of interest regarding mindfulness in therapeutic techniques can be attributed to the publication of some well-designed empirical evaluations of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Arising from this as well as a broader history of clinical integration of mindfulness and Western psychotherapies, a growing number of clinicians have interest and enthusiasm to learn the techniques of mindfulness and to integrate them into their therapeutic work. This review highlights the importance of accurate professional awareness and understanding of mindfulness and its therapeutic applications. Conclusions: The theoretical and empirical literatures on therapeutic applications of mindfulness are in states of significant growth and development. This group suggests, based on this review, that the combination of some well-developed conceptual models for the therapeutic action of mindfulness and a developing empirical base, justifies a degree of optimism that mindfulness-based approaches will become helpful strategies to offer in the care of patients with a wide range of mental and physical health problems.
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Interventions based on training in mindfulness skills are becoming increasingly popular. Mindfulness involves intentionally bringing one's attention to the internal and external experiences occurring in the present moment, and is often taught through a variety of meditation exercises. This review summarizes conceptual approaches to mind-fulness and empirical research on the utility of mindfulness-based interventions. Meta-analytic techniques were incorporated to facilitate quantification of findings and comparison across studies. Although the current empirical literature includes many methodological flaws, findings suggest that mindfulness-based interventions may be helpful in the treatment of several disorders. Methodologically sound investigations are recommended in order to clarify the utility of these interventions.
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There has been substantial interest in mindfulness as an approach to reduce cognitive vulnerability to stress and emotional distress in recent years. However, thus far mindfulness has not been defined operationally. This paper describes the results of recent meetings held to establish a consensus on mindfulness and to develop conjointly a testable operational definition. We propose a two-component model of mindfulness and specify each component in terms of specific behaviors, experiential manifestations, and implicated psychological processes. We then address issues regarding temporal stability and situational specificity and speculate on the conceptual and operational distinctiveness of mindfulness. We conclude this paper by discussing implications for instrument development and briefly describing our own approach to measurement.
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Baer's review (2003; this issue) suggests that mindf ulness-based interventions are clinically efficacious, but that better designed studies are now needed to substantiate the field and place it on a firm foundation for future growth. Her review, coupled with other lines of evidence, suggests that interest in incorporating mindfulness into clinical interventions in medicine and psychology is growing. It is thus important that professionals coming to this field understand some of the unique factors associated with the delivery of mindfulness-based interventions and the potential conceptual and practical pitfalls of not recognizing the features of this broadly unfamiliar landscape. This commentary highlights and contextualizes (1) what exactly mindfulness is, (2) where it came from, (3) how it came to be introduced into medicine and health care, (4) issues of cross-cultural sensitivity and understanding in the study of meditative practices stemming from other cultures and in applications of them in novel settings, (5) why it is important for people who are teaching mind-fulness to practice themselves, (6) results from 3 recent studies from the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society not reviewed by Baer but which raise a number of key questions about clinical applicability, study design, and mechanism of action, and (7) current opportunities for professional training and development in mindfulness and its clinical applications.
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This study describes the effects of an 8-week course in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; J. Kabat-Zinn, 1982, 1990) on affective symptoms (depression and anxiety), dysfunctional attitudes, and rumination. Given the focus of mindfulness meditation (MM) in modifying cognitive processes, it was hypothesized that the primary change in MM practice involves reductions in ruminative tendencies. We studied a sample of individuals with lifetime mood disorders who were assessed prior to and upon completion of an MBSR course. We also compared a waitlist sample matched with a subset of the MBSR completers. Overall, the results suggest that MM practice primarily leads to decreases in ruminative thinking, even after controlling for reductions in affective symptoms and dysfunctional beliefs.
Article
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent psychiatric comorbidity among patients with treatment-resistant seizures. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) is often used to measure the severity of self-reported depressive symptoms among patients with seizure disorders. In contrast, researchers often use the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Depression (D) scale to assess depressed mood among other medical patient groups. The clinical significance of POMS-D scores among seizure disorder patients is not clear. In this study, we computed the correlation of POMS-D and BDI-II scores, determined a formula for converting POMS-D scores to BDI-II scores, and computed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the POMS-D among seizure disorder patients. Two BDI-II cutoffs (BDI-II >=, 16 and 20) were used as criteria for significant reported depressive symptoms. We found a strong correlation between POMS-D and BDI-II scores. Analyses indicated that POMS-D scores strongly predict BDI-II scores. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV values obtained demonstrated that POMS-D scores accurately classify seizure disorder patients who endorse significant depressive symptoms. These results suggest that the POMS-D may be effective in measuring reported depressive symptoms among seizure disorder patients. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Article
There are 2 families of statistical procedures in meta-analysis: fixed- and random-effects procedures. They were developed for somewhat different inference goals: making inferences about the effect parameters in the studies that have been observed versus making inferences about the distribution of effect parameters in a population of studies from a random sample of studies. The authors evaluate the performance of confidence intervals and hypothesis tests when each type of statistical procedure is used for each type of inference and confirm that each procedure is best for making the kind of inference for which it was designed. Conditionally random-effects procedures (a hybrid type) are shown to have properties in between those of fixed- and random-effects procedures.
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• While other anxiety disorders have recently become the subjects of increasing investigation, social phobia remains, except among behavior therapists, relatively unstudied. As a result, major uncertainties exist concerning classification, prevalence, severity, etiology, assessment, and treatment of social phobia. Existing findings do suggest that in its own right and as a comparison for other anxiety disorders, social phobia should prove a fertile area for psychobiological and clinical investigation.
Article
The difficulties inherent in obtaining consistent and adequate diagnoses for the purposes of research and therapy have been pointed out by a number of authors. Pasamanick12 in a recent article viewed the low interclinician agreement on diagnosis as an indictment of the present state of psychiatry and called for "the development of objective, measurable and verifiable criteria of classification based not on personal or parochial considerations, but on behavioral and other objectively measurable manifestations."Attempts by other investigators to subject clinical observations and judgments to objective measurement have resulted in a wide variety of psychiatric rating scales.4,15 These have been well summarized in a review article by Lorr11 on "Rating Scales and Check Lists for the Evaluation of Psychopathology." In the area of psychological testing, a variety of paper-and-pencil tests have been devised for the purpose of measuring specific
Article
The first wave of behavior therapy countered the excesses and scientific weakness of existing nonempirical clinical traditions through empirically studied first-order change efforts linked to behavioral principles targeting directly relevant clinical targets. The second wave was characterized by similar direct change efforts guided by social learning and cognitive principles that included cognitive in addition to behav-ioral and emotive targets. Various factors seem to have set the stage for a third wave, including anomalies in the current literature and philosophical changes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of a number of new interventions from both behavioral and cognitive wings that seem to be moving the field in a different direction. ACT is explicitly contextualistic and is based on a basic experimental analysis of human language and cognition, Relational Frame Theory (RFT). RFT explains why cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance are both ubiquitous and harmful. ACT targets these processes and is producing supportive data both at the process and outcome level. The third-wave treatments are characterized by openness to older clinical traditions, a focus on second order and contextual change, an emphasis of function over form, and the construction of flexible and effective repertoires, among other features. They build on the first-and second-wave treatments, but seem to be carrying the behavior therapy tradition forward into new territory. Over the last several years quite a number of behavior therapies have emerged that do not fit easily into traditional categories within the field.
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Assessment of anxiety in Parkinson's disease (PD) is complicated by symptoms, such as trembling and shaking, that the two disorders have in common. This symptom overlap produces a potential for overestimation of the rate and severity of anxiety when assessed by self-report questionnaire. The purpose of this study is to estimate the extent to which anxiety scores in PD patients might be overestimated by two commonly-used mood state questionnaires. Fifty-nine patients with PD were administered the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Profile of Mood States. Results indicate that the rate of clinically significant anxiety on these measures is indeed higher than the rate of clinical anxiety as determined by interview alone, suggesting the potential for overestimation of anxiety in PD when using self-report questionnaires.
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Recent advances in statistical methods for meta-analysis help reviewers to identify systematic variation in research results.
Article
The CES-D scale is a short self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. The new scale was tested in household interview surveys and in psychiatric settings. It was found to have very high internal consistency and adequate test- retest repeatability. Validity was established by pat terns of correlations with other self-report measures, by correlations with clinical ratings of depression, and by relationships with other variables which support its construct validity. Reliability, validity, and factor structure were similar across a wide variety of demographic characteristics in the general population samples tested. The scale should be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of de pression.
Article
The development and validation of the Social Phobia Scale (SPS) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) two companion measures for assessing social phobia fears is described. The SPS assesses fears of being scrutinised during routine activities (eating, drinking, writing, etc.), while the SIAS assesses fears of more general social interaction, the scales corresponding to the DSM-III-R descriptions of Social Phobia—Circumscribed and Generalised types, respectively. Both scales were shown to possess high levels of internal consistency and test–retest reliability. They discriminated between social phobia, agoraphobia and simple phobia samples, and between social phobia and normal samples. The scales correlated well with established measures of social anxiety, but were found to have low or non-significant (partial) correlations with established measures of depression, state and trait anxiety, locus of control, and social desirability. The scales were found to change with treatment and to remain stable in the face of no-treatment. It appears that these scales are valid, useful, and easily scored measures for clinical and research applications, and that they represent an improvement over existing measures of social phobia.
Article
Three exploratory studies evaluated group mindfulness training (which aims to facilitate non-judgmental attention to present moment experience through the practice of meditation) in patients waiting for cognitive behaviour therapy for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The approaches used were based on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. The first group showed that such training is acceptable to patients and that it results in significantly improved subjective measures of anxiety, and improvements in subjective levels of fatigue that approached significance, when compared to waiting list controls. A second uncontrolled study replicated the findings of the first study and also demonstrated an improvement in quality of life as measured by the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS). More wide-ranging effects were demonstrated in the final study in which significant improvements in subjective levels of fatigue, anxiety, depression, quality of life and physical functioning were observed following the training programme. These effects were sustained for 3 months. Overall, the findings of the three exploratory studies indicate that MBSR/MBCT has potential for the treatment of patients with CFS.
Article
Mindfulness training has been proposed as a potentially important new approach for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, to date only a few studies have investigated mindfulness training for GAD. The aim of this study was to further investigate symptom change and recovery in pathological worry after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) using an uncontrolled pre-post design. Twenty-three adults with a primary diagnosis of GAD participated in the study. The MBCT program involved 9 weekly 2-hour group sessions, a post-treatment assessment session, and 6-week and 3-month follow-up sessions. Intent-to-treat analysis revealed significant improvements in pathological worry, stress, quality of life, and a number of other symptoms at post-treatment, which were maintained at follow-up. Attrition was also low, and MBCT was perceived as a credible and acceptable intervention. However, when applying standardized recovery criteria to pathological worry scores, the rate of recovery at post-treatment was very small, although improved at follow-up. Overall, the findings suggest MBCT is definitely worthy of further investigation as a treatment option for GAD, but falls well short of outcomes achieved by past research. Possible reasons for the poor rate of recovery, implications, and limitations are briefly outlined.
Article
Although the Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE) Scale has widespread applicability to many areas of research in personality and social psychology, its utility is sometimes limited by its length. This article presents a brief, 12-item version of the FNE that correlates very highly (f96) with the original scale and that demonstrates psychometric properties that are nearly identical to those of the full-length scale.
Article
Purpose: To provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with clinical research about Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and demonstrate its usefulness for reducing stress in a variety of populations. Data Sources: A literature review was conducted using the following databases: EBSCO, Cinahl, Pschyline, and Medline. English language articles published between 2000 and 2006 in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed. Search terms “mindfulness,”“meditation,” and “stress” were used. Additional information was obtained through select, reputable Internet sites. Conclusions: MBSR is an effective treatment for reducing stress and anxiety that accompanies daily life and chronic illness. MBSR is also therapeutic for healthcare providers, enhancing their interactions with patients. No negative side effects from MBSR have been documented. Implications for practice: MBSR is a safe, effective, integrative approach for reducing stress. Patients and healthcare providers experiencing stress or stress-related symptoms benefit from MBSR programs. NPs can safely and effectively use this intervention in a variety of patient populations.
Article
ABSTRACT– A self-assessment scale has been developed and found to be a reliable instrument for detecting states of depression and anxiety in the setting of an hospital medical outpatient clinic. The anxiety and depressive subscales are also valid measures of severity of the emotional disorder. It is suggested that the introduction of the scales into general hospital practice would facilitate the large task of detection and management of emotional disorder in patients under investigation and treatment in medical and surgical departments.
Article
Issues concerning use of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for the self-report of depressive symptomatology are raised and considered. Discussion includes the stability of depression and the need for multiple assessment periods, specificity and the need for multiple assessment measures, and selection cut scores and the need for terminological accuracy. Recommendations for the continued use of the BDI, designed to facilitate the integration of diverse studies and improve research on self-reported depression, are provided.
Article
Losses in relationships, work, and other areas of life often accompany the physical discomfort of chronic pain. Often the depth and intensity of the grief associated with chronic pain are overlooked or possibly misdiagnosed and treated as depression. We used an 8-week mindfulness meditation program to determine its effectiveness in addressing the grieving process among 39 patients diagnosed with chronic pain. Eighteen patients volunteered to be in a comparison group. The study was conducted in a regional hospital's pain clinic and patients completed the Response to Loss Scale (measuring grief), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results indicated that the treatment group advanced significantly more quickly through the initial stages of grieving than the comparison group. In addition, the treatment group demonstrated significant reductions in depression and state anxiety, but no significant differences emerged when comparing groups on the final stages of grieving or trait anxiety.
Article
The existence of depression in children and adolescents is well established, but debate remains about the phenomenology of the depressive syndrome in the young. In order to discover possible age differences in rates and etiology, the definition and measurement of depression must be comparable across the ages to be studied. A widely used self-report depression symptom scale, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale, was administered to convenient (and not necessarily representative) samples of high school and college students. The scores and patterns of responses to the 20 symptom items of the scale were compared with already existing data from junior high school students, from depressed patients, and from a representative community sample of adults and young adults. The results of the analyses suggest that the CES-D Scale is acceptable and reliable in all the groups studied. The scores of the junior high school group may be inflated by an excess of transient symptoms and should be interpreted with caution, but the scale seems to be very suitable for the high school and older groups.
Article
In this article, we respond to a recent paper published in Children and Youth Services Review, in which Dr. Julia Littell concluded that multisystemic therapy (MST), a family- and evidence-based treatment of serious juvenile offenders, does not reduce rates of rearrest or incarceration and does not improve family relations. Dr. Littell's conclusion is contrasted with those of highly respected reviewers and federal entities that are entirely independent of MST developers and researchers. Moreover, we describe how Dr. Littell's conceptual and methodological analyses have misinterpreted and misrepresented MST research studies and reflect poor appreciation for the conduct of community-based research with challenging clinical populations; the distinctions between efficacy, effectiveness, and transportability research; the nuances of conducting meta-analyses; the importance of treatment fidelity to internal validity; and the fact that not all outcome studies are asking the same conceptual questions. Finally, the implications of Dr. Littell's contentions are noted.
Article
The use of Yoga and other complementary healthcare interventions for both clinical and non-clinical populations has increased substantially in recent years. In this context, we describe the implementation of Hatha Yoga in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program of Kabat-Zinn and colleagues. This is embedded in a more general consideration of Yoga’s place in complementary healthcare. In providing this overview, we comment on the nature and quality of current research on Yoga, summarize current physiological and psychological explanations of its effects, and discuss practical issues related to teacher training and experience.
Article
The first wave of behavior therapy countered the excesses and scientific weakness of existing nonempirical clinical traditions through empirically studied first-order change efforts linked to behavioral principles targeting directly relevant clinical targets. The second wave was characterized by similar direct change efforts guided by social learning and cognitive principles that included cognitive in addition to behavioral and emotive targets. Various factors seem to have set the stage for a third wave, including anomalies in the current literature and philosophical changes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one of a number of new interventions from both behavioral and cognitive wings that seem to be moving the field in a different direction. ACT is explicitly contextualistic and is based on a basic experimental analysis of human language and cognition, Relational Frame Theory (RFT). RFT explains why cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance are both ubiquitous and harmful. ACT targets these processes and is producing supportive data both at the process and outcome level. The third-wave treatments are characterized by openness to older clinical traditions, a focus on second order and contextual change, an emphasis of function over form, and the construction of flexible and effective repertoires, among other features. They build on the first- and second-wave treatments, but seem to be carrying the behavior therapy tradition forward into new territory.