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Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation
Abstract
The underlying changes in biological processes that are associated with reported changes in mental and physical health in response to meditation have not been systematically explored. We performed a randomized, controlled study on the effects on brain and immune function of a well-known and widely used 8-week clinical training program in mindfulness meditation applied in a work environment with healthy employees.
We measured brain electrical activity before and immediately after, and then 4 months after an 8-week training program in mindfulness meditation. Twenty-five subjects were tested in the meditation group. A wait-list control group (N = 16) was tested at the same points in time as the meditators. At the end of the 8-week period, subjects in both groups were vaccinated with influenza vaccine.
We report for the first time significant increases in left-sided anterior activation, a pattern previously associated with positive affect, in the meditators compared with the nonmeditators. We also found significant increases in antibody titers to influenza vaccine among subjects in the meditation compared with those in the wait-list control group. Finally, the magnitude of increase in left-sided activation predicted the magnitude of antibody titer rise to the vaccine.
These findings demonstrate that a short program in mindfulness meditation produces demonstrable effects on brain and immune function. These findings suggest that meditation may change brain and immune function in positive ways and underscore the need for additional research.
... Fadel, Johnson, suggest that 4 days of meditation training can enhance the ability to sustain attention; benefits that have previously been reported with long-term meditators. People who have undergone extensive meditation training have shown improvements on cognitive performance (Cahn & Polich, 2006) [5] and mood (Davidson et al., 2003) [8] . Johansson, Bjuhr & Ronnback (2012) [1] implemented a novel, non-pharmacologist strategy aimed at improving the condition of patients suffering from mental fatigue after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. ...
... Fadel, Johnson, suggest that 4 days of meditation training can enhance the ability to sustain attention; benefits that have previously been reported with long-term meditators. People who have undergone extensive meditation training have shown improvements on cognitive performance (Cahn & Polich, 2006) [5] and mood (Davidson et al., 2003) [8] . Johansson, Bjuhr & Ronnback (2012) [1] implemented a novel, non-pharmacologist strategy aimed at improving the condition of patients suffering from mental fatigue after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. ...
Mental fatigue causes individuals to perform less well than expected (Dantzer et al., 2014). The purpose of the present research was to ascertain the effect of meditation training on mental fatigue amongst the soccer players of Chandigarh. It was hypothesized that there is no effect of meditation on mental fatigue of the soccer players. The sample of twenty male Soccer players was randomly selected from the population. The sample was further randomly divided into two groups i.e., an experimental groups and a control group. The experimental group was given training for six weeks in the evening session for 25 to 30 minutes for alternate days per week for the period of six weeks. Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare the mean scores of pre and post group test in the present study. The results of the study were examined at 0.05 level of significant. The results of the study suggest that meditation training has significant effect on the mental fatigue of the soccer players of Chandigarh. Introduction Competition in sports has become so demanding today that the athletes need to work very hard to achieve success. Athletes are required to meet two types of demands competition demands and training demands to achieve success. These two demands are interrelated and have negative impact on psychological aspect of athletes. Silva (1990) [23] Training stress is defined as having both positive and negative adaptation responses. Positive adaptations to training stress are desirable and generally demonstrate appropriate responses to physical and psychological overloads imposed to initiate a training effect. Negative adaptations to training stress generally occur when an imbalance exists between imposed training demands and coping capacities. Thus not all training stress leads to negative adaptation at psychological or physiological response levels. Negative training stress responses are hypothesized to regress along a continuum from staleness to overtraining to burnout. This regressive pattern is labelled the training stress syndrome. Clear definitions and distinctions for staleness, overtraining and burnout are presented along with the conceptual models for positive and negative adaptation to training stress. Marcora, Staiano & Manning (2009) [20] Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity. Our study provides experimental evidence that mental fatigue limits exercise tolerance in humans through higher perception of effort rather than cardio respiratory and musculoenergetic mechanisms. On the other hand, it may also deactivate facilitative brain centers (normally responsible for motivated behavior and increased drive toward a reward), also resulting in decreased drive. Mental fatigue is associated with a broad range of 'side-effects': lack of energy, increased fatigability and feelings of lassitude, decreased feelings of motivation and alertness and changes in perception and mood (Dantzer et al., 2014) [7]. On the contrary, the 'strength of self-control theory' posits that ego-depleting tasks deplete a single global metaphorical strength that has limited capacity and hence impair subsequent performance (Baumeister et al., 1998) [2]. Nevertheless, the hypothesis of the depletion of energy substrates (such as glucose) in the brain causing performance decrements has been refuted convincingly (Kurzban, 2010) [17]. Beedie and Lane (2012) [3] suggest convincingly that the effects of mentally fatiguing tasks should be considered in light of an individual's allocation of resources in response to the perceived importance of the task at hand (and its costs). We therefore propose to study the
... Potentially, the psychological benefits of mindfulness could be explained by neurological effects that mindfulness practice holds. Research findings demonstrate that mindfulness may influence the brain's neuroplasticity, its ability to change its structure and functions and connections (Davidson, 2003;Lardone et al., 2019). The most vital change discovered relate to the amygdala, a brain area associated with emotion regulation and stress regulation (Linsambarth et al., 2017). ...
... Activation in dopaminergic structures has been reported with increased meditative practices (Hagerty et al., 2013). This could partially be an explanation for perceived improved mood by meditators after practising as well as the long-lasting effects of these changes (Brown & Ryan, 2003;Davidson et al., 2003;Hagerty et al., 2013;Singleton et al., 2014). This suggests that mindfulness has an effect on long-term tonic levels. ...
This article provides a computational analysis of the behavioural effects of ADHD and its underlying decision making and epigenetic factors including the DNA methylation in relation to the ST3GAL3 gene, which has been found to play an important role in ADHD. It includes a systematic literature review combined with an adaptive dynamical system modelling approach to model and simulate the adaptive mental and behavioural dynamics in an integrative manner. As individuals with ADHD are prone to consuming digital media in an unhealthy manner, the behavioural effects of ADHD are considered in the context of digital media use. This is examined in relation to the associated neurological impairments in self-regulation as well as reward processing underlying decision-making. To illustrate this interplay, it is modelled by a higher-order adaptive dynamical system modelling approach. In addition, this article discusses both traditional (pharmacological) and non-traditional (mindfulness) interventions to improve quality of life and reduce impairments associated with ADHD and applied in the context of problematic digital media use.
... In this context, non-judgment refers to being open and accepting of various thoughts, emotions, and sensations. A growing body of research overwhelmingly indicates the effectiveness of mindfulness practices in increasing the amount and degree of positive emotions that individuals feel on a dayto-day basis (e.g., Davidson et al., 2003;Ryan & Deci, 2001) and contributing to resilience and our physical and mental well-being (e.g., Keng et al., 2011). ...
... As aforementioned, other studies have found that coherent worldviews can contribute to psychological well-being and resilience (Koltko-Rivera, 2004; Janoff-Bulman & Yopyk, 2004). Research on mindfulness and other contemplative practices, which share some -but only partial -common ground with philosophical re ection, has shown various psychological and physiological bene ts (Kabat-Zinn, 2003; Davidson et al., 2003). ...
This study explores the concept of philosophical health through the lens of digital knowledge platforms. It addresses the relative underrepresentation of philosophy in digital humanities and explores new avenues for philosophical inquiry and practice in the digital age. We employed an online survey to gather responses from 239 participants across six key elements of philosophical health: bodily sense, sense of self, sense of belonging, sense of the possible, sense of purpose, and philosophical sense. Using this pilot case, we examine how philosophy may utilize digital knowledge infrastructures to explore complex existential questions on a broader scale than analog methods allow. Our findings reveal insights into contemporary philosophical perspectives, including for example widespread feelings of disconnection from one’s body, a high percentage believing their self to be evolving, and prevalent feelings of loneliness which might or might not be digitally enhanced. We further discuss the ethical implications of using digital platforms for philosophical health assessment, including issues of privacy, informed consent, algorithmic bias, and the potential commodification of philosophical practice. We examine future directions, including AI-assisted philosophical counseling and non-metaphorical “wisdom of the crowds” research. Additionally, we explore how a digital approach may contribute to the accessibility of philosophical practice, potentially supporting ideas of “citizen science” in philosophy.
... Mindfulness practice increasingly promotes behavioral changes since it can help support and promote behavioral changes through the interaction of three components affecting better self-regulation, 1) increased attention control that supports emphasis on goals, 2) better emotional control that helps increase positive emotions and self-reinforcement, and 3) change in self-awareness by becoming less attached to something and increased perceived selfefficacy, improved self-observation and calmness while maintaining monitoring (19,33,34) . This is consistent with a study finding that mindfulness practice can help reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, and helps boost brain function responsible for attention control and positive emotions including caring and other social emotions that promote behavioral changes (34)(35)(36)(37) . It is consistent with a systematic review, indicating that mindfulness training could help reduce blood pressure in patients with chronic NCDs (10,14) . ...
Background: Stroke is the second cause of Thai death after cancer. Therefore, stroke patients need to change their healthcare behavior (HB) for
sustainable recovery.
Objective: To study the effectiveness of mindfulness and self-regulation program (MSRP) on the HB and to analyze the interaction between family
social support (FSS), and MSRP on HB of stroke patients.
Materials and Methods: The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were designed to test the program’s effectiveness. Fifty-eight stroke patients
at the Neurological Institute participated in this trial. This was calculated by using G*Power 3.1 at power 0.85. Random assignment was used to
allocate 28 participants in the experimental and 30 in the control group. The data were collected from the Likert rating scale with a Cronbach’s
reliability of 0.934 to 0.989. The MSRP ran for five weeks with five activities between April and December 2021. T-tests and two-way ANOVA
were used for data analyses.
Results: After participation, stroke patients had a mean HB of 5.32 (SD 0.423) and were at a high level. The MSRP was effective, significantly
enhancing HB. Additionally, the experimental group had a higher HB than the control group and higher than before participation in the intervention
(p<0.05). The present study found that the interaction between FSS and the MSRP affected HB.
Conclusion: This MSRP should be used to initiate promoting the HB of stroke patients.
... Early research, therefore, explored the effects of MBSR on pain and demonstrated reductions in pain ratings compared to control groups receiving typical pain treatment (Kabat-Zinn et al., 1985). Subsequent studies expanded the application of MBSR to other health contexts, such as reducing cancer risk through increased melatonin levels (Massion et al., 1995), improving skin clearing in psoriasis patients (Kabat-Zinn et al., 1998), and enhancing immune functioning as measured by antibody response to an influenza vaccine (Davidson et al., 2003). As mindfulness research expanded rapidly, many systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses have been published to document this development. ...
... There is compelling evidence that mindfulness awareness practices integrated into intervention programs can decrease brain activity in regions associated with negative emotion (Davidson et al., 2003) and associated with a more positive state of mind (Greeson, 2009), reduce stress, depression, fatigue, and anxiety (Ruff & Mackenzie, 2009;Speca et al., 2000), as well as improve working memory, academic skills, social skills, and attention (Brown et al., 2011;Meiklejohn et al., 2012;Semple et al. 2010). One randomized control trial study with a sample of 159 students indicated that a school-based yoga program had positive effects on the mental health of high-poverty children, increased school engagement, and improved students' emotional regulation, positive thinking, and cognitive restructuring in response to stress (Frank et al., 2017). ...
Evidence-based early intervention programs for children at risk of developing psychological problems after exposure to armed conflict have been recommended as a major component in the treatment of psychosocial problems. This study examines the efficacy of a pilot school-based mindfulness intervention (SMI) and its impact on the social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes of war-affected refugee preschool children living in a refugee camp in Türkiye. A single-blind randomized controlled trial with pre-test and post-test design was employed. A total of 76 participants (born in 2013) were randomized by the school into the 6-week intervention (n = 38) or the control group (n = 38). Measures included the State Self-Esteem Scale, Early Childhood Social Skill Measure, and the Child and Youth Resilience Measure-Revised. GLM repeated-measures ANOVA (p < 0,05) analysis showed positive effects of SMI on social skills (F = 126.06, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.63), self-esteem (F = 72.08, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.49) and resilience (F = 4.33, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.05) over time for the intervention group as compared to controls. Significant reductions in social and emotional problems were found for children who reported high levels of introversion in the pre-test. Pilot study results support SMI as a promising intervention for psychosocial problems that can reduce stress and anxiety symptoms among children exposed to armed conflict and forced migration.
... 14,15 Many researchers are investigating biological mechanisms by which MBIs influence health. For example, neuroendocrine 16,17 inflammatory 18,19 and neural pathways 20,21 appear to be altered following MBIs. However, to fully characterize the active mechanisms of MBIs, it is essential to accurately measure participants' assimilation of mindfulness skills, attitudes, and behaviors, and their association with health outcomes. ...
Background
Mindfulness meditation is ubiquitous in health care, education, and communities at large. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are the focus of hundreds of NIH-funded trials given the myriad health benefits associated with this practice across multiple populations. Notwithstanding, significant gaps exist in how mindfulness concepts are measured using currently available self-report instruments. Due to the number of available mindfulness measurement tools, each measuring different aspects, it is difficult to determine the extent to which individuals develop comparable mindfulness skills and attitudes and which health benefits can be attributed to which gains in mindfulness. The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (Puerto RicoOMIS®) has established a rigorous instrument development methodology to create brief, precise, and clinically relevant outcomes tools.
Objective
This is the first of 4 papers representing an NCCIH-funded initiative ( R01AT009539 ), which has applied Puerto RicoOMIS® instrument development methodologies to mindfulness measurement to improve the rigor, relevance, and reproducibility of MBI research results.
Methods/Results
This introductory paper sets the stage for why improved mindfulness measurement tools are needed and briefly describes the Puerto RicoOMIS® development approach. The second 2 papers highlight results from a national survey, focus groups, and expert interviews to identify and organize relevant mindfulness concepts, domains, and items for eventual item bank creation. The fourth paper reviews the item writing and development process of these new instruments, including results from stakeholder cognitive interviews and a translatability review.
Conclusion
Together these papers feature the rigorous development approach, rationale, logic, and significance that supports the development, calibration, and validation of new Puerto RicoOMIS® measures of mindfulness and related concepts.
... Alguns dos efeitos incluem aumento no volume de massa cinzenta no cérebro e nos níveis do fator neurotrófico derivado do cérebro (BDNF); melhora na regulação do eixo hipotalâmicopituitário-adrenal; e aumento da atividade parassimpática. Efeitos também são observados na regulação emocional e função cognitiva, e parecem ocorrer reduções nos níveis de ansiedade, diminuição de emoções negativas e da reatividade a estímulos negativos, e melhora de afetos positivos (Davidson et al., 2003;Menezes et al., 2015;Field, 2016;Last;Tufts;Auger, 2017;Stephens, 2017;Anand et al., 2021). ...
Este estudo tem como objetivo trazer reflexões acerca do modo como o Yoga pode educar a atenção para perceber e se relacionar com o ambiente de uma maneira mais integrada, afetiva e acolhedora, aprofundando o entendimento da relação entre os ensinamentos do Yoga e a Educação Ambiental. Nesse contexto, são desenvolvidos três tópicos ao longo do texto: Yoga, aprendizagem e mudança de percepção; Yoga e Educação Ambiental; Ecologia Profunda e a interdependência entre todos os seres. O primeiro tópico aborda como a aprendizagem do Yoga pode auxiliar em mudanças de percepção e comportamentais que promovem uma integração entre corpo, mente e ambiente. O segundo tópico enfatiza a relação do Yoga com a Educação Ambiental, considerando seus fundamentos éticos e a importância de um mergulho interior mais profundo por meio da meditação. O terceiro tópico, apresenta a aproximação entre Ecologia Profunda e Yoga, destacando a conexão profunda que existe entre ser e ambiente. O Yoga, em sua forma mais completa, pode ser capaz de promover uma transformação no modo de perceber e se relacionar com o ambiente e todos seres que nele habitam.
... In psychological research, mindfulness practices have been found to help patients enhance acceptance and awareness, make changes within their capabilities after gaining clear awareness, cultivate stable mental states, and improve emotional regulation, thereby achieving the effect of alleviating anxiety and depression (Segal et al., 2002). Additionally, in psychosomatic medicine, mindfulness interventions can improve negative emotions such as anxiety and depression by influencing the central nervous system and immune system (Davidson et al., 2003). Firstly, in the central nervous system: mindfulness interventions can regulate brain regions related to emotion control by influencing the plasticity of the central nervous system, increasing activity in the prefrontal cortex, and reducing the volume of the right amygdala, thereby helping patients alleviate anxiety and depression (Gotink et al., 2018). ...
Objective
This study aims to assess the effect of mindfulness intervention on negative emotions (anxiety and depression) and quality of life in malignant tumor patients.
Methods
The databases, including CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database disc (CBMdisc), PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (WoS), were searched from inception to January 2024. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of mindfulness intervention on negative emotions and quality of life in malignant tumor patients were selected. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1.
Results
A total of 11 studies involving 993 patients were included. Compared with usual care, mindfulness intervention effectively reduced anxiety [SMD = −0.81, 95% CI (−1.01, −0.60), p < 0.00001], depression [SMD = −0.86, 95% CI (−1.01, −0.70), p < 0.00001], and improved patients’ quality of life [SMD = 0.64, 95% CI (0.50, 0.78), p < 0.00001].
Conclusion
Mindfulness intervention can effectively alleviate negative emotions such as anxiety and depression in malignant tumor patients and positively impact their quality of life.
... Participants in the wait-list control group will be assured to receive either MY or PE training sessions following the same module at the end of the study according to their interests. This method has been widely used and recommended by the Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine Committee [55]. ...
... It is a mind-body practice involving voluntarily focusing attention on momentary experiences and observing inner experiences (Kabat-Zinn & Hanh, 2009). Mindfulness is based on repetitive observation of all bodily sensations (Davidson et al., 2003). ...
Objective: The aim of this study was to adapt the Three Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (TFMQ-SF) into Turkish. Method: The sample of the methodological study consisted of 302 pregnant women. The data of the study were collected between May and August 2022 by using the Personal Information Form, TFMQ-SF and Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale. There are 12 items in the TFMQ-SF. Validity analysis of the data; content validity index, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis were performed with Cronbach's Alpha reliability coefficient. Ethics committee permission was obtained. Results and Conclusion: The content validity index of the scale was found to be 0.93. As a result of Confirmatory Factor Analysis, x2: 1178,445 (degrees of freedom: 66), x2/df: 2.407 and RMSEA: 0.068 were found and the model indicated a good/excellent fit. The item means of the scale ranged between 2.34±1.20 and 2.99±1.15, the item factor-loads ranged between. 59-.82, and the effect of the scale items on the sub-dimension was found to be statistically significant (p
... 391). Past research has shown that mindfulness is associated with lower emotional exhaustion (Hülsheger et al., 2013), enhanced engagement (Leroy et al., 2013) and improved energy levels (the opposite of fatigue) in high stress jobs (Davidson et al., 2003). ...
Drawing on theories of trait activation and mindfulness-to-meaning, we investigate the ways in which trait mindfulness has its effects on daily outcomes. We propose that trait mindfulness operates via the mechanism of affect and is associated with higher daily positive affect, which is in turn related to better daily energetic wellbeing (higher vigor, lower fatigue) and cognitive resources (higher concentration, lower rumination). Additionally, we evaluated the moderating effect of a low-dose daily mindfulness intervention in the workplace compared to an active control on these relationships. We draw on data from employees in a large Irish public sector organization to test our hypotheses (1242 daily observations nested in 186 participants; nAC = 54, nMF = 132). Our findings highlight positive affect as a daily mechanism through which trait mindfulness impacts daily vigor, fatigue, concentration, and rumination. In addition, the intervention moderated the indirect effects from trait mindfulness to these outcomes via positive affect, such that trait mindfulness had a stronger effect on these outcomes when individuals also engaged in a low-dose daily mindfulness intervention. This suggests a ‘rich get richer’ explanation for the relationship between trait mindfulness and low dose mindfulness interventions, indicating that such interventions may work as prompts to activate the trait for those with already developed mindfulness skills. Thus, our research challenges the notion of apriori need diagnosis when daily workplace mindfulness interventions are low in dosage and contributes to our current understanding of how mindfulness is beneficial in workplace settings.
... Tal resultado sugere que, após um treinamento intenso de meditação, é necessário apenas um esforço mínimo para a manutenção do foco da atenção durante a prática. Davidson et al. (2003) Os benefícios reportados na literatura são vários: maior nível de satisfação com a vida; melhora dos relacionamentos interpessoais; desenvolvimento de resiliência; ampliação da memória; redução de níveis de ansiedade, estresse e depressão (para uma revisão, ver Menezes & Dell'Aglio, 2009;Neves Neto, 2011). ...
... Similar results were reported in research on 206 University of Massachusetts Medical School students, who discovered that practicing mindfulness meditation was a strong predictor of reduced stress and higher well-being. Numerous other studies on mindfulness and well-being have shown that mindfulness meditation can increase well-being by exerting a positive influence on mood (Davidson et al., 2003;Erisman & Roemer, 2010;Goldin & Gross, 2010;Johnson, Gur, David, & Currier, 2015) and anxiety (Farb et al., 2010;McKim, 2008;Rosenzweig, Reibel, Greeson, Brainard, &Hojat, 2003;Shapiro, Schwartz, & Bonner, 1998). Further research conducted by Baer et al. (2008) and Josefsson, Larsman, Broberg, and Lundh (2011) on a sample of meditators and nonmeditators has revealed that facets of trait mindfulness mediate the connection between the experience of meditation and psychological well-being. ...
The current paper delves into gender differences in the elderly regarding mindfulness and wellbeing, which have been highly inconsistent in the literature. Therefore, to gain better insight, this study was performed. The findings revealed that elderly females were found to be more mindful and have better psychological well-being than their counterparts. The findings have been discussed in light of social-emotional and self-determination theories
... At the interpersonal level, improvements are observed in the quality of interpersonal relationships and intimacy [37,38], identification and communication of emotions, anger management, and empathy [39]. Finally, at the cerebral level, effects of mindfulness-based interventions have been found in areas of the brain associated with the experience of positive emotions [40] and with empathy and theory of mind [41]. Structural brain changes have been found in areas associated with learning and memory processes, emotional regulation, self-referential processing, and perspective taking after participating in a mindfulness-based intervention (MBSR) [42]. ...
This study analyzed the relationship between mindfulness and variables considered relevant for teacher–student interactions: teacher burnout, general stress, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. We hypothesized that mindfulness would relate negatively with mental health variables and positively with quality of life. We also explored which specific aspects of mindfulness would predict burnout, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life. Given the results of regression analyses, mediation models were performed to explore the mechanisms through which different facets of mindfulness affect quality of life. As predicted, the correlation analysis showed that mindfulness and its dimensions were positively associated with the quality of life of the teachers and burnout dimension of personal fulfillment and negatively associated with anxiety, depression, and stress (considering FFMQ total score and most of its dimensions). Consistently, regression analysis showed that the overall level of mindfulness, after controlling for the grade level at which the teacher works, showed significant associations with the level of personal fulfillment, depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life. The results of the mediation analyses showed that the ability not to judge ourselves was associated with fewer symptoms of depression and stress and, through these pathways, positively affected quality of life. On the other hand, the ability not to react favored quality of life by reducing anxiety and stress. Finally, acting with awareness was the only facet of mindfulness that favored quality of life, affecting one of the dimensions of burnout.
... Another finding obtained from this study reveals that mindfulness is a positive and significant predictor of resilience in women. Previous studies reveal that mindfulness is positively related to positive emotions, and it is a significant variable that can improve resilience (Davidson et al., 2003;Ryan & Deci, 2001). Lightsey (2006) states that resilience can be taught via psychological interventions, while Van Breda (2001) emphasizes that interventions based on mindfulness can be an effective method to increase resilience. ...
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the mediating role of awareness, cognitive flexibility, positive attitude towards the future, and social support in the relationship between perceived abuse and resilience in women.
Method
The researchers used structural equation modelling to test whether internal protective factors such as mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, positive attitudes towards the future, and external protective factors such as perceived social support from family and friends play a role as protective factors in the effect of abuse women perceive in their romantic relationships on their resilience. Within the scope of this research, data were collected by purposive sampling method from 818 women aged 18 and over who are currently in a romantic relationship.
Results
The findings of this study revealed that the hypothetical model established based on the literature was not rejected [χ² / df = 4,400; RMSEA = 0.065; SRMR: 057; CFI = 0.951; NFI =, 938; TLI / NNFI = 0.925; GFI = 0.964; AGFI = 0.935]. Besides, it has been found that internal and external protective factors together explain 52% of the change in resilience.
Conclusions
The mediating role of the internal and external protective factors in the model revealed that they play a crucial role in the process of developing resilience among women. The findings obtained from the research were discussed within the scope of the related literature and suggestions were presented to researchers and those working in the practice field for further studies.
... In fact, the integration of the brain into interoception research was already pioneered in studies on event-related potentials related to heartbeats (Schandry et al., 1986) or respiratory occlusions (Davenport et al., 1986). Another likely factor that has directed the attention of neuroscience to internal bodily signals is meditation research, which, with a new Westernized version of Buddhist philosophy and practice (Kabat-Zinn, 1982;Davidson et al., 2003), has made mindfulness, bodily awareness, and attention to the breath a central topic of interest to both scientific and societal circles (Farb et al., 2015). ...
... Previously, meditation was linked with religious and spiritual contexts. Practices like MI, which incorporate meditation, evolved into a focusing practice to enhance mental and emotional well-being and cognitive development (Davidson et al., 2003). Some benefits of meditation in higher education are the following: ...
Canada, a destination for a rising number of immigrants, reports declination in the mental health status of immigrants over time, especially among immigrant women, given the intersection of being immigrants and being women. However, evidence suggests the protective effect of social support on the mental health of these women. Additionally, research shows the positive impact of engagement with art on their mental health. Creating artwork and exchanging social support may occur concurrently in community art programs. Reports on grassroots art projects suggest promising psychological results for participants. Yet, there are scarce Canadian-based studies in this field. My (ongoing) doctoral research project explores immigrant women’s conceptualization of their mental health and the role of art as a research method in helping them express their mental health experiences.
In this paper, consistent with my presentation at the International Conference on Mental Health and Addictions, I discuss early findings and implications.
Organizations have faced constant change, intensified post-pandemic, shifting from a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) to a BANI world (brittle, anxious, non-linear, incomprehensible). Managing processes and people has become more challenging. Technological advancements, new work models, evolving employees needs talent, attraction and retention and constant uncertainty critically impact business development. Leaders now need emotional skills to handle current socioeconomic conditions and people's adaptability to new work environments. Effective self-leadership is crucial for successful leadership today. Developing EI provides leaders with tools to understand themselves, their teams and the environment. It aids in managing difficult situations, making decisions, and supporting team development towards sustainable goals. Neuroscience shows that practicing mindfulness connects us to a critical pause, forming the basis for training essential emotional skills. Today's leaders need mindfulness and compassion to promote sustainable people centered through self-leadership.
Teaching and learning English in Bhutan focuses on students'
cognitive outcomes with minimal attention to their emotions and
self-regulated learning abilities. Using an action research
methodology, this study examined how fifth-grade students’
reading comprehension of literary texts can be enhanced by
improving their academic emotions during reading. The study was
conducted with 24 fifth-grade students at a primary school in
central Bhutan. Students’ academic emotions during reading were
measured using a modified version of the Achievement Emotions
Questionnaire (AEQ). Pre-test and post-test questions for reading
comprehension were administered, and eight observations were
made simultaneously. The results of data analysis using t-test and
descriptive statistics revealed a statistically significant difference
between the mean scores of the pre-test test (4.14; SD = 2.26) and
post-test (M=6.19; SD=1.44) at p<0.05, indicating an improvement
in students’ reading comprehension. This was further confirmed by
analysing the observation notes recorded by a critical friend during
the pre-test and post-test. The results showed that students’ positive
academic emotions enhanced students’ reading comprehension
abilities. Based on the findings, implications were discussed, and
recommendations were proposed for English teachers and students.
Bu kitap, modern psikolojinin temel kavramlarını ve yaklaşımlarını ele alarak, psikolojiye yeni adım atan öğrenciler ve konuyla ilgilenen tüm okuyucular için anlaşılır ve kapsamlı bir rehber sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. "Psikolojiye Giriş" adlı bu eser, psikoloji biliminin geniş yelpazesi içinde yer alan temel konuları özenle seçerek, okuyuculara hem teorik hem de pratik bilgilerle donanmış bir başlangıç noktası sunar.
Kitabın içeriği, psikolojinin tarihsel gelişiminden başlayarak, insan davranışını ve zihinsel süreçleri inceleyen çeşitli psikolojik yaklaşımlara kadar geniş bir kapsamı içermektedir. Bilimsel yöntemler, bilişsel süreçler, öğrenme, algı, güdülenme, kişilik, gelişim ve ruh sağlığı gibi temel konular, sade ve anlaşılır bir dille ele alınmıştır. Her bölüm, öğrencilerin ve okuyucuların konuları doğru anlamalarını sağlayacak şekilde yapılandırılmış, aynı zamanda akademik olarak sağlam ve çağdaş temellere dayanan bilgilerle desteklenmiştir.
Bu kitabı hazırlarken en büyük motivasyonum, psikolojiye olan merak ve ilgiyi artırarak, bu alanda daha derinlemesine bilgi sahibi olma yolunda meraklısına bir rehber sunmaktır. Psikoloji, insan davranışını ve zihinsel süreçleri anlamamıza yardımcı olan çok yönlü bir bilim dalıdır. Bu kitapla, psikolojinin büyüleyici dünyasına ilk adımı atmanızı umuyor, bu alandaki öğrenme yolculuğunuzda size rehberlik etmekten büyük mutluluk duyuyorum.
Bu eseri, Türk psikolojisine değerli katkılarıyla tanınan ve benim de üzerimde büyük emeği olan kıymetli hocam Dr. Sema Karakelle’ye armağan etmekten onur duyuyorum. Onun bilgi birikimi, rehberliği ve ilham verici yaklaşımı, bu kitabın oluşum sürecinde en büyük destekçim olmuştur. Kitabın her satırında onun çaba ve emeğini de hissedeceksiniz.
Kitabın siz değerli okuyuculara faydalı olmasını, psikoloji bilimine olan ilginizi artırmasını ve bu alanda yeni ufuklar açılmasına vesile olmasını diliyorum.
This chapter investigates the Vipassana meditation technique and its application in meditation retreats as a paradigm for stress reduction and fostering mental well-being within the realm of health tourism. Through a case study centered on the Dhamma-Bodhi Meditation Centre in Bodhgaya, the birthplace of Buddhism, the chapter delves into the unique experiential aspects of Vipassana practice and its impact on participants' mental health. Drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data, the chapter examines the effectiveness of Vipassana retreats in alleviating stress and promoting mental resilience. Additionally, it explores the role of the serene and spiritually rich environment of Bodhgaya in enhancing the overall experience of meditation tourism. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the intersection between traditional meditation practices, tourism, and mental health promotion, offering insights into the potential of Vipassana retreats as a holistic approach to wellness tourism
Over the past four years, Haiti has faced an unprecedented, accumulation of traumatic events. Among the worst, we can highlight: Earthquakes, and widespread criminal activity, including kidnappings, rapes, and homicides. Calamities of all kinds follow one another putting the population in a constant fight or flight mode. Since the earthquake of January 12, 2010, the Haitian people have not known any respite. The end of the tunnel is still very far from sight. Amid all this, the mental health of the entire population is weakened. The result is a completely disorganized social functioning.
The Mind-Body approach is one of the effective tools that has helped this population to maintain the balance through so many adversities. This approach has increased its effectiveness by allowing the population to find an internally built peace. This paper is intended to be a recognition of the Mind-body approach, one of the most effective in maintaining mental balance in times of adversity.
Psychiatric factors play a significant role in the ongoing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. In less than four decades, advances in HIV medical care and research have transformed acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) from a rapidly fatal illness of unknown cause into a chronic, manageable illness. Vast strides have been made in clinical care and pathogenesis research in the fields of HIV prevention and psychiatric care, including pre- (PreP) and and post-exposure (PEP) prophylaxis. Although AIDS is an entirely preventable infectious illness, HIV transmission continues throughout the world. Transmission of HIV continues to be fueled by many factors, including stigma of HIV and mental illness as well as discrimination, criminalization, and risky behaviors. A comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to sexual health and mental health and diminution of stigma are key to both HIV prevention and HIV care. Integration of psychiatric care into HIV prevention and treatment entails use of a biopsychosocial approach that maintains a view of each individual with HIV as a member of a family, community, and society who deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion. This textbook provides an update on HIV medicine and psychiatry; introduces the concept of HIV/AIDS as “the great magnifier of maladies”; explores the paradoxes and disparities of HIV care; explains how HIV psychiatry is a paradigm for the psychiatric care of the medically ill (psychosomatic medicine); and sets the stage for an understanding of how integrated care can prevent transmission of HIV and reduce morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV.
This study explores the phenomenon of amygdala hijack, where the amygdala, a key brain structure involved in emotional processing, overrides rational thinking during intense emotional experiences. The objective of this study is to provide contemporary insights into the causes, correlates and consequences of amygdala hijack through a systematic literature review of various databases and selected articles. The study is organized into several sections and subheadings to provide a comprehensive understanding of the hijack phenomenon. These sections include understanding the causes of amygdala hijack, exploring its correlates, and examining its consequences. Intervention approaches are also discussed, along with implications for individuals, clinicians and researchers. The relevance of this study lies in its contribution to the understanding of emotional processing and decision making. By delving into the amygdala hijack phenomenon, this research enhances our knowledge of how emotions can override rational thinking and influence behavior. This has implications for areas such as psychology, neuroscience and psychiatry. Limitations of the study are acknowledged, and future research directions are proposed to further explore the complexities of amygdala hijack. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the amygdala hijack phenomenon, highlighting its impact on individuals and suggesting recommendations for future research and intervention strategies.
Background and Objective
Complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches are increasingly popular among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Whole person health has been identified as an important perspective in integrative health. While complementary approaches have been discussed in the GI literature, the whole person health framework has not yet been incorporated. Whole person health is particularly relevant as we shift to patient-centered care to facilitate holistic healing for this population. The aim of this paper is to apply a conceptualization of whole person health and its relevance in understanding how CIH approaches can be utilized for patients with stress-sensitive GI disorders, such as disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods
Between July 2023 and December 2023 numerous major databases were reviewed to identify relevant articles for this narrative review. Keywords searched included (but not limited to) complementary alternative medicine, integrative medicine, DGBI, IBD, whole person health, and CIH categories (nutritional, mind-body, psychological). We limited our search to peer-reviewed English language articles. Studies were also cross-referenced to incorporate additional relevant studies.
Key Content and Findings
This narrative review describes how to integrate CIH approaches with whole person health for patients with some of the most common stress-sensitive GI disorders, including DGBIs and IBD. In each section, we highlight how each domain of the whole person health framework (biological, behavioral, social, environmental) can be addressed through CIH approaches: psychological, mind-body practices, and nutritional.
Conclusions
The integration of CIH approaches into the treatment of GI disorders is a growing area of interest that holds promise for enhancing patient outcomes. The two concepts of CIH and whole person health are harmonizing, and their integration serves to support patients who are already using CIH approaches, and providers who can facilitate shared-decision-making and patient-centered care. While not exhaustive, this review demonstrates positive associations between the use of CIH and beneficial outcomes across all whole person health domains for patients with GI disorders.
Las creencias irracionales, según la perspectiva de la terapia cognitivo-conductual, son aquellos pensamientos que una persona sostiene de manera inflexible y que no están respaldados por evidencias lógicas o realistas. Estas creencias suelen ser distorsiones cognitivas que influyen de manera negativa en las emociones y comportamientos de las personas que las tienen. (Lega L. y otros 1997). El objetivo de esta investigación consiste en evaluar los efectos de la asignatura Psic. 430 Terapia cognitivo-conductual (la cual incluye un nuevo módulo sobre el aprendizaje de técnicas de mindfulness) en las intensidades de las creencias y de las actitudes irracionales de los estudiantes matriculados en esta asignatura. Se empleó un diseño cuasiexperimental (pretest y postest), con una fase de seguimiento de tres meses y medio y un grupo control. Se aplicaron el Test de Creencias Irracionales (Jones–Calvete-Cardeñoso, 1999) y la Escala de Creencias y Actitudes Irracionales (Lega, L., Caballo V. y Ellis, A., 1997) a 36 estudiantes de IV año, participantes del curso, y a 38 estudiantes de II año, como grupo control, todos estudiantes de la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad de Panamá. Los resultados de esta investigación confirman que el programa de terapia cognitivo-conductual tiene un efecto significativo en reducir las intensidades de las creencias y actitudes irracionales de los estudiantes matriculados en esta asignatura.
La práctica de mindfulness en los centros educativos ha tenido un notable auge en los últimos años. Por ello, se presenta un estudio de caso donde se contrasta la competencia emocional de estudiantes de 5º de Educación Primaria en su estado inicial y la evolución a lo largo del curso académico. Se realiza a través de una metodología cualitativa que desea conocer las atribuciones que el alumnado realiza a su mejora en competencia emocional a través de la práctica de mindfulness. Aparecen resultados reveladores sobre la importancia que los estudiantes dan a la práctica de mindfulness y momentos de encuentro consigo mismos. Estos están en consonancia con otros estudios analizados en contextos similares. Por tanto, se aporta un estudio longitudinal que engloba un curso académico completo, posibilitando tener una mayor perspectiva de estudio. Las conclusiones invitan a reflexionar sobre la necesidad de dotar a la escuela de momentos de introspección y desarrollo personal interior, a la vez que se continúan trabajando contenidos curriculares básicos para el desarrollo de los estudiantes.
This book is a detailed, evidence-based reference on the field of integrative geriatric medicine. It is intended for all healthcare providers and advocates who work with the geriatric population—in outpatient settings and nursing homes, assisted and independent living facilities, and senior community centers. In addition, it will provide valuable information for leaders and politicians who are involved with implementing policies and procedures for the care of elderly patients and who are looking for safer, less costly, and more patient-centered approaches. Integrative geriatrics is a new field of medicine that advocates for a whole-person, patient-centered, primarily non-pharmacological approach to medical care of the elderly. Most current geriatric practices overprescribe medications and procedures and underutilize non-pharmacological, low-cost, high-touch methods. Patients, however, often show reluctance toward these standard practices because they often involve invasive interventions. The practice of integrative geriatrics is rooted in lifestyle interventions, such as nutrition, movement therapies, and mind-body and spirituality approaches, that allow patients to take a different path to their health, one that utilizes pharmaceuticals and invasive procedures only when safer integrative approaches are not available or not effective.
This research investigates the transformative power of meditative inquiry (MI) during the COVID-19 pandemic in higher education. The study, conducted through an eight-week AwakenU intervention, explores MI’s impact on undergraduate students’ leadership potential, productivity, and well-being. Using a mixed methods approach, we assess MI’s influence on participants’ emotional regulation, self-esteem, creativity, and benevolence. The findings highlighted MI’s capacity to foster personal growth and well-being within a supportive online environment. By integrating contemplative practices into higher education, this study addresses the “why” of enhancing leadership development and well-being among undergraduates. Its insights offer practical guidance for educational leaders and curriculum developers. MI emerges as a promising pedagogical tool, promoting authentic approaches to navigating challenges needed to navigate our ever-changing world.
Background and Aims
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are a chronic and disabling disease that has a significant impact on quality of life due to weakening of physical health, financial problems and social stigma. This study aims to validate the Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) model in people with human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) in Iran.
Methods
Four hundred and fifty‐two people with HIV from Imam Khomeini Hospital between the age of 18 and 65 years (men: 308, women: 144) participated in the research. anonymously completed a battery of questionnaires, namely the Persian basic psychological need satisfaction and frustration scale, SF‐36, PSQI and mindful attention awareness scale. The method of the present study was the structural equation model.
Results
Current findings indicated there is a significant positive between mindfulness and need satisfaction, physical and mental health and, significant negative between mindfulness and quality and quantity of sleep. Mindfulness and need satisfaction are significant positive predictors of quality of life in people with HIV. Quality and quantity of sleep are significant negative predictors of quality of life in people with HIV. There is a positive significance between need satisfaction and physical and mental health but there is a negative significance between need satisfaction and quality and quantity. there is a negative significant between the quality and quantity of sleep with physical and mental health. Mindfulness facilitates the satisfaction of more psychological needs and improves the quality of sleep. The quality of sleep is a negative significant predictor for physical and mental health but the quantity of sleep is a negative significant predictor for physical health.
Conclusion
The HRQOL model can explain 18% of physical health and 16% of mental health in people with HIV in Iran. The elements of this model can be useful in evaluating and treating people with HIV in the Iranian Population. They also can use the models to plan for better services.
Purpose of Review
Mindfulness therapy is a widely used treatment for many diseases and has been shown to improve pain-related functions. There is growing support for the use of psychotherapy in the treatment of chronic pain. While studies have shown a positive effect of mindfulness therapy, it is important to consider psychosocial factors as there are still a small number of studies that question its effectiveness.
Recent Findings
Based on current studies, mindfulness therapy involves cognitive factors related to chronic pain, both in terms of cognitive production and its impact on cognitive control. Psychological and neurobasic studies were reviewed to provide a deeper understanding of these components, which include thought inhibition, attention deficit, pain catastrophizing, and self-efficacy. Mindfulness therapy has the potential to normalize psychology and nerves, and increase internal and external connectivity to work networks related to stress perception, cognition, and emotion. However, further research is needed to fully understand its effects. By exploring the relationship between mindfulness therapy and chronic pain.
Summary
This review provides a new avenue for future research in psychotherapy for patients with chronic pain.
The authors present an overview of the neural bases of emotion. They underscore the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala in 2 broad approach- and withdrawal-related emotion systems. Components and measures of affective style are identified. Emphasis is given to affective chronometry and a role for the PFC in this process is proposed. Plasticity in the central circuitry of emotion is considered, and implications of data showing experience-induced changes in the hippocampus for understanding psychopathology and stress-related symptoms are discussed. Two key forms of affective plasticity are described—context and regulation. A role for the hippocampus in context-dependent normal and dysfunctional emotional responding is proposed. Finally, implications of these data for understanding the impact on neural circuitry of interventions to promote positive affect and on mechanisms that govern health and disease are considered.
This study evaluated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a group intervention designed to train recovered recurrently depressed patients to disengage from dysphoria-activated depressogenic thinking that may mediate relapse/recurrence. Recovered recurrently depressed patients (n = 145) were randomized to continue with treatment as usual or, in addition, to receive MBCT. Relapse/recurrence to major depression was assessed over a 60-week study period. For patients with 3 or more previous episodes of depression (77% of the sample), MBCT significantly reduced risk of relapse/recurrence. For patients with only 2 previous episodes, MBCT did not reduce relapse/recurrence. MBCT offers a promising cost-efficient psychological approach to preventing relapse/recurrence in recovered recurrently depressed patients.
In recent studies of the structure of affect, positive and negative affect have consistently emerged as two dominant and relatively independent dimensions. A number of mood scales have been created to measure these factors; however, many existing measures are inadequate, showing low reliability or poor convergent or discriminant validity. To fill the need for reliable and valid Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales that are also brief and easy to administer, we developed two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The scales are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period. Normative data and factorial and external evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales are also presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
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.
This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of a group stress reduction program based on mindfulness meditation for patients with anxiety disorders.
The 22 study participants were screened with a structured clinical interview and found to meet the DSM-III-R criteria for generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Assessments, including self-ratings and therapists' ratings, were obtained weekly before and during the meditation-based stress reduction and relaxation program and monthly during the 3-month follow-up period.
Repeated measures analyses of variance documented significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores after treatment for 20 of the subjects--changes that were maintained at follow-up. The number of subjects experiencing panic symptoms was also substantially reduced. A comparison of the study subjects with a group of nonstudy participants in the program who met the initial screening criteria for entry into the study showed that both groups achieved similar reductions in anxiety scores on the SCL-90-R and on the Medical Symptom Checklist, suggesting generalizability of the study findings.
A group mindfulness meditation training program can effectively reduce symptoms of anxiety and panic and can help maintain these reductions in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or panic disorder with agoraphobia.
The relation between brain activity and the immune system was evaluated by assessing immune responses in 20 healthy women who manifested extreme differences in the asymmetry of frontal cortex activation. One group showed extreme and stable left frontal activation; the other group showed extreme and stable right frontal activation. As predicted, women with extreme right frontal activation had significantly lower levels of natural killer cell activity (at effector:target cell ratios of 33:1 and 11:1) than did left frontally activated individuals. This difference did not extend to two other immune measures, lymphocyte proliferation and T-cell subsets. However, higher immunoglobulin levels of the M class were observed in the right frontal group. In this study, the immune patterns could not be accounted for by plasma cortisol levels, anxiety- and depression-related symptomatology, or recent health histories. These findings support the hypothesis that there is a specific association between frontal brain asymmetry and certain immune responses.
Using positron emission tomography (PET), measurements of the regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (rCMRGlc) are able to delineate cerebral metabolic responses to external or mental stimulation. In order to examine possible changes of brain metabolism due to Yoga meditation PET scans were performed in 8 members of a Yoga meditation group during the normal control state (C) and Yoga meditative relaxation (YMR). Whereas there were intraindividual changes of the total CMRGlc, the alterations were not significant for intergroup comparison; specific focal changes or changes in the interhemispheric differences in metabolism were also not seen; however the ratios of frontal vs. occipital rCMRGlc were significantly elevated (p less than 0.05) during YMR. These altered ratios were caused by a slight increase of frontal rCMRGlc and a more pronounced reduction in primary and secondary visual centers. These data indicate a holistic behavior of the brain metabolism during the time of altered state of consciousness during YMR.
In this experiment, we combined the measurement of observable facial behavior with simultaneous measures of brain electrical activity to assess patterns of hemispheric activation in different regions during the experience of happiness and disgust. Disgust was found to be associated with right-sided activation in the frontal and anterior temporal regions compared with the happy condition. Happiness was accompanied by left-sided activation in the anterior temporal region compared with disgust. No differences in asymmetry were found between emotions in the central and parietal regions. When data aggregated across positive films were compared to aggregate negative film data, no reliable differences in brain activity were found. These findings illustrate the utility of using facial behavior to verify the presence of emotion, are consistent with the notion of emotion-specific physiological patterning, and underscore the importance of anterior cerebral asymmetries for emotions associated with approach and withdrawal.
Developments in technologic and analytical procedures applied to the study of brain electrical activity have intensified interest in this modality as a means of examining brain function. The impact of these new developments on traditional methods of acquiring and analyzing electroencephalographic activity requires evaluation. Ultimately, the integration of the old with the new must result in an accepted standardized methodology to be used in these investigations. In this paper, basic procedures and recent developments involved in the recording and analysis of brain electrical activity are discussed and recommendations are made, with emphasis on psychophysiological applications of these procedures.
This review addresses the importance of studies of human psychoneuroimmunology in understanding the role of psychological factors in physical illness. First, it provides psychologically and biologically plausible explanations for how psychological factors might influence immunity and immune system-mediated disease. Second, it covers substantial evidence that factors such as stress, negative affect, clinical depression, social support, and repression/denial can influence both cellular and humoral indicators of immune status and function. Third, at least in the case of the less serious infectious diseases (colds, influenza, herpes), it considers consistent and convincing evidence of links between stress and negative affect and disease onset and progression. Although still early in its development, research also suggests a role of psychological factors in autoimmune diseases. Evidence for effects of stress, depression, and repression/denial on onset and progression of AIDs and cancer is less consistent and inconclusive, possibly owing to methodological limitations inherent in studying these complex illnesses, or because psychological influences on immunity are not of the magnitude or type necessary to alter the body's response in these cases. What is missing in this literature, however, is strong evidence that the associations between psychological factors and disease that do exist are attributable to immune changes.
To test the hypothesis that stress reducing techniques such as meditation alter immune responses after strenous physical stress.
The hypothesis was tested by studying six meditating and six non-meditating male runners in a concurrent, controlled design. After a period of six months with meditation for the experimental group, blood samples were taken immediately before and after a maximum oxygen uptake test (VO2max).
The increase in CD8+ T cells after VO2max was significantly less in the meditation group than in the control group (P = 0.04). The amount of CD2+ cells doubled after VO2max, mainly because of a rise in the CD8+ fraction.
Meditation may modify the suppressive influence of strenous physical stress on the immune system.
The inability to cope successfully with the enormous stress of medical education may lead to a cascade of consequences at both a personal and professional level. The present study examined the short-term effects of an 8-week meditation-based stress reduction intervention on premedical and medical students using a well-controlled statistical design. Findings indicate that participation in the intervention can effectively (1) reduce self-reported state and trait anxiety, (2) reduce reports of overall psychological distress including depression, (3) increase scores on overall empathy levels, and (4) increase scores on a measure of spiritual experiences assessed at termination of intervention. These results (5) replicated in the wait-list control group, (6) held across different experiments, and (7) were observed during the exam period. Future research should address potential long-term effects of mindfulness training for medical and premedical students.
The present study tested the effects of a multimodal cognitive-behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on anxious mood, perceived stress, 24-hr urinary catecholamine levels, and changes in T-lymphocyte subpopulations over time in symptomatic HIV+ gay men. Seventy-three men were randomized to either a group-based CBSM intervention (n = 47) or a wait-list control (WLC) condition (n = 26). Men assigned to CBSM showed significantly lower posttreatment levels of self-reported anxiety, anger, total mood disturbance, and perceived stress and less norepinephrine (NE) output as compared with men in the WLC group. At the individual level, anxiety decreases paralleled NE reductions. Significantly greater numbers of T-cytotoxic/suppressor (CD3+CD8+) lymphocytes were found 6 to 12 months later in those assigned to CBSM. Moreover, greater decreases in NE output and a greater frequency of relaxation home practice during the 10-week CBSM intervention period predicted higher CD3+CD8+ cell counts at follow-up.
This study evaluated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a group intervention designed to train recovered recurrently depressed patients to disengage from dysphoria-activated depressogenic thinking that may mediate relapse/recurrence. Recovered recurrently depressed patients (n = 145) were randomized to continue with treatment as usual or, in addition, to receive MBCT. Relapse/recurrence to major depression was assessed over a 60-week study period. For patients with 3 or more previous episodes of depression (77% of the sample), MBCT significantly reduced risk of relapse/recurrence. For patients with only 2 previous episodes, MBCT did not reduce relapse/recurrence. MBCT offers a promising cost-efficient psychological approach to preventing relapse/recurrence in recovered recurrently depressed patients.
The authors present an overview of the neural bases of emotion. They underscore the role of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala in 2 broad approach- and withdrawal-related emotion systems. Components and measures of affective style are identified. Emphasis is given to affective chronometry and a role for the PFC in this process is proposed. Plasticity in the central circuitry of emotion is considered, and implications of data showing experience-induced changes in the hippocampus for understanding psychopathology and stress-related symptoms are discussed. Two key forms of affective plasticity are described--context and regulation. A role for the hippocampus in context-dependent normal and dysfunctional emotional responding is proposed. Finally, implications of these data for understanding the impact on neural circuitry of interventions to promote positive affect and on mechanisms that govern health and disease are considered.
Recently, there has been a convergence in lesion and neuroimaging data in the identification of circuits underlying positive and negative emotion in the human brain. Emphasis is placed on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala as two key components of this circuitry. Emotion guides action and organizes behavior towards salient goals. To accomplish this, it is essential that the organism have a means of representing affect in the absence of immediate elicitors. It is proposed that the PFC plays a crucial role in affective working memory. The ventromedial sector of the PFC is most directly involved in the representation of elementary positive and negative emotional states while the dorsolateral PFC may be involved in the representation of the goal states towards which these elementary positive and negative states are directed. The amygdala has been consistently identified as playing a crucial role in both the perception of emotional cues and the production of emotional responses, with some evidence suggesting that it is particularly involved with fear-related negative affect. Individual differences in amygdala activation are implicated in dispositional affective styles and increased reactivity to negative incentives. The ventral striatum, anterior cingulate and insular cortex also provide unique contributions to emotional processing.
The brain circuitry underlying emotion includes several territories of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate, and related structures. In general, the PFC represents emotion in the absence of immediately present incentives and thus plays a crucial role in the anticipation of the future affective consequences of action, as well as in the persistence of emotion following the offset of an elicitor. The functions of the other structures in this circuit are also considered. Individual differences in this circuitry are reviewed with an emphasis on asymmetry within the PFC and activation of the amygdala as 2 key components of affective style. These individual differences are related to both behavioral and biological variables associated with affective style and emotion regulation. Plasticity in this circuitry and its implications for transforming emotion and cultivating positive affect and resilience are considered.
Research on cerebral asymmetry and the experience and expression of emotion is reviewed. The studies described use electrophysiological procedures to make inferences about patterns of regional cortical activation. Such procedures have sufficient temporal resolution to be used in the study of brief emotional experiences denoted by spontaneous facial expressions. In adults and infants, the experimental arousal of positive, approach-related emotions is associated with selective activation of the left frontal region, while arousal of negative, withdrawal-related emotions is associated with selective activation of the right frontal region. Individual differences in baseline measures of frontal asymmetry are associated with dispositional mood, affective reactivity, temperament, and immune function. These studies suggest that neural systems mediating approach- and withdrawal-related emotion and action are, in part, represented in the left and right frontal regions, respectively, and that individual differences in the activation levels of these systems are associated with a coherent nomological network of associations which constitute a person's affective style.
We compared virus-specific antibody and T-cell responses to influenza virus vaccination in 32 caregivers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and matched control subjects. Caregivers showed a poorer antibody response and virus-specific T-cell response following vaccination compared to the control subjects as measured by fourfold increases in antibody titers to the vaccine and lower levels of virus-induced IL-2 levels in vitro. We performed a second study in which forty-eight medical students were inoculated with a series of three injections of the hepatitis-B (HEP-B) vaccine to coincide with the third day of three, three-day examination blocks. Twelve of the 48 medical students seroconverted after the first injection; these students were characterized by falling into the lower stressed/lower anxiety group of students. Students who reported greater social support and lower anxiety and stress demonstrated a higher antibody response to the vaccine and a more vigorous T-cell response to HEP-B surface antigen at the end of the third examination experience. The differences in antibody and T-cell responses to HEP-B and influenza virus vaccinations provide a demonstration of how stress may be able to alter both the cellular and humoral immune responses to vaccines and novel pathogens in both younger and older adults.
The aim of the present study was to examine whether the neural structures subserving meditation can be reproducibly measured, and, if so, whether they are different from those supporting the resting state of normal consciousness. Cerebral blood flow distribution was investigated with the 15O-H2O PET technique in nine young adults, who were highly experienced yoga teachers, during the relaxation meditation (Yoga Nidra), and during the resting state of normal consciousness. In addition, global CBF was measured in two of the subjects. Spectral EEG analysis was performed throughout the investigations. In meditation, differential activity was seen, with the noticeable exception of V1, in the posterior sensory and associative cortices known to participate in imagery tasks. In the resting state of normal consciousness (compared with meditation as a baseline), differential activity was found in dorso-lateral and orbital frontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyri, left temporal gyri, left inferior parietal lobule, striatal and thalamic regions, pons and cerebellar vermis and hemispheres, structures thought to support an executive attentional network. The mean global flow remained unchanged for both subjects throughout the investigation (39 ± 5 and 38 ± 4 ml/100 g/min, uncorrected for partial volume effects). It is concluded that the H215O PET method may measure CBF distribution in the meditative state as well as during the resting state of normal consciousness, and that characteristic patterns of neural activity support each state. These findings enhance our understanding of the neural basis of different aspects of consciousness. Hum. Brain Mapping 7:98–105, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
We examined whether resting anterior electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry in the alpha frequency band has psychometric properties that would be expected of a measure assessing individual differences. In each of two experimental sessions, separated by three weeks, resting EEG in midfrontal and anterior temporal sites was recorded from 85 female adults during eight 60-s baselines. Resting alpha asymmetry demonstrated acceptable test-retest stability and excellent internal consistency reliability. Analyses including other frequency bands indicated that degree of stability varied somewhat as a function of band and region. In addition, asymmetry was less stable than absolute power. Discussion focuses on the implications of the present findings for the measurement and conceptualization of resting anterior asymmetry.
In recent studies of the structure of affect, positive and negative affect have consistently emerged as two dominant and relatively independent dimensions. A number of mood scales have been created to measure these factors; however, many existing measures are inadequate, showing low reliability or poor convergent or discriminant validity. To fill the need for reliable and valid Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales that are also brief and easy to administer, we developed two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The scales are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period. Normative data and factorial and external evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales are also presented.
This study addressed the effects of a naturally occurring stressor on components of the immune response. Blood was drawn twice from 75 first-year medical students, with a baseline sample taken one month before their final examinations and a stress sample drawn on the first day of final examinations. Median splits on scores from the Holmes--Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale and the UCLA Loneliness Scale produced a 2 X 2 X 2 repeated measures ANOVA when combined with the trials variable. Natural killer (NK) cell activity declined significantly from the first to the second sample. High scorers on stressful life events and loneliness had significantly lower levels of NK activity. Total plasma IgA increased significantly from the first to second sample, while plasma IgG and IgM, C-reactive protein, and salivary IgA did not change significantly.
A previous study of 22 medical patients with DSM-III-R-defined anxiety disorders showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in subjective and objective symptoms of anxiety and panic following an 8-week outpatient physician-referred group stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness meditation. Twenty subjects demonstrated significant reductions in Hamilton and Beck Anxiety and Depression scores postintervention and at 3-month follow-up. In this study, 3-year follow-up data were obtained and analyzed on 18 of the original 22 subjects to probe long-term effects. Repeated measures analysis showed maintenance of the gains obtained in the original study on the Hamilton [F(2,32) = 13.22; p < 0.001] and Beck [F(2,32) = 9.83; p < 0.001] anxiety scales as well as on their respective depression scales, on the Hamilton panic score, the number and severity of panic attacks, and on the Mobility Index-Accompanied and the Fear Survey. A 3-year follow-up comparison of this cohort with a larger group of subjects from the intervention who had met criteria for screening for the original study suggests generalizability of the results obtained with the smaller, more intensively studied cohort. Ongoing compliance with the meditation practice was also demonstrated in the majority of subjects at 3 years. We conclude that an intensive but time-limited group stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness meditation can have long-term beneficial effects in the treatment of people diagnosed with anxiety disorders.
There is encouraging evidence that structured psychological treatments for depression, in particular cognitive therapy, can reduce subsequent relapse after the period of initial treatment has been completed. However, there is a continuing need for prophylactic psychological approaches that can be administered to recovered patients in euthymic mood. An information-processing analysis of depressive maintenance and relapse is used to define the requirements for effective prevention, and to propose mechanisms through which cognitive therapy achieves its prophylactic effects. This analysis suggests that similar effects can be achieved using techniques of stress-reduction based on the skills of attentional control taught in mindfulness meditation. An information-processing analysis is presented of mindfulness and mindlessness, and of their relevance to preventing depressive relapse. This analysis provides the basis for the development of Attentional Control Training, a new approach to preventing relapse that integrates features of cognitive therapy and mindfulness training and is applicable to recovered depressed patients.
To determine whether a chronic stressor (caregiving for a spouse with a progressive dementia) is associated with an impaired immune response to influenza virus vaccination, we compared 32 caregivers' vaccine responses with those of 32 sex-, age-, and socioeconomically matched control subjects. Caregivers showed a poorer antibody response following vaccination relative to control subjects as assessed by two independent methods, ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition. Caregivers also had lower levels of in vitro virus-specific-induced interleukin 2 levels and interleukin 1beta; interleukin 6 did not differ between groups. These data demonstrate that down-regulation of the immune response to influenza virus vaccination is associated with a chronic stressor in the elderly. These results could have implications for vulnerability to infection among older adults.
Previous blood flow measurements in this laboratory have indicated increased nonrenal nonhepatic blood flow during behaviorally induced rest states, especially during the stylized mental technique of transcendental meditation (TM). We have hypothesized that increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) may account for most of the increased nonrenal nonhepatic blood flow during TM. In this report we describe increased frontal and occipital CBF in TM determined by the electrical impedance plethysmographic methodology known as rheoencephalography (REG), which allows noninvasive, nondisturbing, continuous CBF monitoring. We also report high correlation between increased CBF and decreased cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) during TM, suggesting that a contributing vascular mechanism to the increased CBF may be decreased CVR. Because only a small amount of stage 1 sleep was observed during TM and because stage 1 sleep has been reported to be accompanied by decreased CBF, we believe that sleep did not contribute to the CBF increase. The data of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that blood flow changes during TM comprise a patterned response subserving needs of increased cerebral activity.
This study tests the hypothesis that stress reduction methods based on mindfulness meditation can positively influence the rate at which psoriasis clears in patients undergoing phototherapy or photochemotherapy treatment.
Thirty-seven patients with psoriasis about to undergo ultraviolet phototherapy (UVB) or photochemotherapy (PUVA) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention guided by audiotaped instructions during light treatments, or a control condition consisting of the light treatments alone with no taped instructions. Psoriasis status was assessed in three ways: direct inspection by unblinded clinic nurses; direct inspection by physicians blinded to the patient's study condition (tape or no-tape); and blinded physician evaluation of photographs of psoriasis lesions. Four sequential indicators of skin status were monitored during the study: a First Response Point, a Turning Point, a Halfway Point, and a Clearing Point.
Cox-proportional hazards regression analysis showed that subjects in the tape groups reached the Halfway Point (p = .013) and the Clearing Point (p = .033) significantly more rapidly than those in the no-tape condition, for both UVB and PUVA treatments.
A brief mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention delivered by audiotape during ultraviolet light therapy can increase the rate of resolution of psoriatic lesions in patients with psoriasis.
The aim of the present study was to examine whether the neural structures subserving meditation can be reproducibly measured, and, if so, whether they are different from those supporting the resting state of normal consciousness. Cerebral blood flow distribution was investigated with the 15O-H20 PET technique in nine young adults, who were highly experienced yoga teachers, during the relaxation meditation (Yoga Nidra), and during the resting state of normal consciousness. In addition, global CBF was measured in two of the subjects. Spectral EEG analysis was performed throughout the investigations. In meditation, differential activity was seen, with the noticeable exception of V1, in the posterior sensory and associative cortices known to participate in imagery tasks. In the resting state of normal consciousness (compared with meditation as a baseline), differential activity was found in dorso-lateral and orbital frontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyri, left temporal gyri, left inferior parietal lobule, striatal and thalamic regions, pons and cerebellar vermis and hemispheres, structures thought to support an executive attentional network. The mean global flow remained unchanged for both subjects throughout the investigation (39+/-5 and 38+/-4 ml/100 g/min, uncorrected for partial volume effects). It is concluded that the (H2)15O PET method may measure CBF distribution in the meditative state as well as during the resting state of normal consciousness, and that characteristic patterns of neural activity support each state. These findings enhance our understanding of the neural basis of different aspects of consciousness.
Recently, there has been a convergence in lesion and neuroimaging data in the identification of circuits underlying positive and negative emotion in the human brain. Emphasis is placed on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the amygdala as two key components of this circuitry. Emotion guides action and organizes behavior towards salient goals. To accomplish this, it is essential that the organism have a means of representing affect in the absence of immediate elicitors. It is proposed that the PFC plays a crucial role in affective working memory. The ventromedial sector of the PFC is most directly involved in the representation of elementary positive and negative emotional states while the dorsolateral PFC may be involved in the representation of the goal states towards which these elementary positive and negative states are directed. The amygdala has been consistently identified as playing a crucial role in both the perception of emotional cues and the production of emotional responses, with some evidence suggesting that it is particularly involved with fear-related negative affect. Individual differences in amygdala activation are implicated in dispositional affective styles and increased reactivity to negative incentives. The ventral striatum, anterior cingulate and insular cortex also provide unique contributions to emotional processing.
Reliable individual differences in electrophysiological measures of prefrontal activation asymmetry exist and predict dispositional mood and other psychological and biological indices of affective style. Subjects with greater relative right-sided activation report more dispositional negative affect and react with greater intensity to negative emotional challenges than their left-activated counterparts. We previously established that such individual differences in measures of prefrontal activation asymmetry were related to basal NK function, with left-activated subjects exhibiting higher levels of NK function than right-activated subjects. The present study was designed to replicate and extend these earlier findings. Subjects were tested in five experimental sessions over the course of 1 year. During the first two sessions, baseline measures of brain electrical activity were obtained to derive indices of asymmetric activation. During sessions 3 and 4, blood samples were taken during a nonstressful period in the semester and then 24 h prior to the subjects' most important final examination. During session 5, subjects were presented with positive and negative film clips 30 min in duration. Blood samples were obtained before and after the film clips. Subjects with greater relative right-sided activation at baseline showed lower levels of basal NK function. They also showed a greater decrease in NK function during the final exam period compared to the baseline period. Subjects with greater relative left-sided activation showed a larger increase in NK function from before to after the positive film clip. These findings indicate that individual differences in electrophysiological measures of asymmetric prefrontal activation account for a significant portion of variance in both basal levels of, and change in NK function.
The brain circuitry underlying emotion includes several territories of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the amygdala, hippocampus, anterior cingulate, and related structures. In general, the PFC represents emotion in the absence of immediately present incentives and thus plays a crucial role in the anticipation of the future affective consequences of action, as well as in the persistence of emotion following the offset of an elicitor. The functions of the other structures in this circuit are also considered. Individual differences in this circuitry are reviewed, with an emphasis on asymmetries within the PFC and activation of the amygdala as 2 key components of affective style. These individual differences are related to both behavioral and biological variables associated with affective style and emotion regulation. Plasticity in this circuitry and its implications for transforming emotion and cultivating positive affect and resilience are considered.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a clinical program, developed to facilitate adaptation to medical illness, which provides systematic training in mindfulness meditation as a self-regulatory approach to stress reduction and emotion management. There has been widespread and growing use of this approach within medical settings in the last 20 years, and many claims have been made regarding its efficacy. This article will provide a critical evaluation of the available state of knowledge regarding MBSR and suggestions for future research.
A review of the current literature available within the medical and social sciences was undertaken to provide an evaluation regarding what we know about the construct of mindfulness, the effectiveness of MBSR, and mechanisms of action.
There has been a paucity of research and what has been published has been rife with methodological problems. At present, we know very little about the effectiveness of this approach. However, there is some evidence that suggests that it may hold some promise.
The available evidence does not support a strong endorsement of this approach at present. However, serious investigation is warranted and strongly recommended.
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