(1) Background: There is increasing interest in the practice of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) to treat people with schizophrenia, as evidenced by the publication of different randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, no meta-analysis of RCTs has been carried out to date with the exclusive inclusion of this type of interventions. (2) Objective: To analyze empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of MBIs for the improvement of clinical parameters associated with schizophrenia. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of RCTs published in the databases PsycINFO, PubMed, WOS, and Cochrane Library. (3) Results: A total of 10 articles (n = 1094) fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the review. The analysis of these studies suggests that MBIs combined with standard interventions are able to generate significant improvements in a variety of clinical schizophrenia-related parameters, such as the intensity of overall symptomatology (g = 0.72), positive symptoms (g = 0.32), negative symptoms (g = 0.40), functioning level (g = 1.28), and awareness of illness (g = 0.65). (4) Conclusions: There is evidence that supports the effectiveness and safety of MBIs for the treatment of people with schizophrenia. The results obtained by MBIs are comparable to those obtained by cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis. However, given the heterogeneity of the applied interventions and the methodological limitations found in the reviewed trials, the results should be interpreted with caution.
15 May 2024 in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Context: Several studies have shown that emotional regulation (ER) is a transdiagnostic construct of emotional disorders. Therefore, if therapy improves ER, it would improve psychological distress.Objective: This review assesses and compares the changes in ER due to psychological treatment in different therapies.Methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of RCTs published in the databases PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science was performed. It was registered in PROSPERO under the number CRD42023387317. Two independent experts in the field reviewed the articles.Results: A total of 18 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Analysis of these studies suggests that in unified protocol (UP), cognitive behaviour therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) and mindfulness, there is evidence to support that a moderate effect occurs during treatment. Furthermore, in mindfulness and DBT, the effect was moderate in the follow‐up period, while in UP, it was high.Limitations: Given the heterogeneity of the applied interventions and the methodological limitations found in the reviewed trials, the results should be interpreted with caution.Conclusions: UP, cognitive behaviour therapy, DBT and mindfulness can improve ER after therapy, while UP, DBT and mindfulness in the follow‐up period. Other therapies, such as SKY or Flotation REST, require more research.
This research analyses the effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) and physical exercise (PE), practised as daily recovery activities during lunch breaks, on perceived stress, general mental health, and immunoglobin A (IgA). A three-armed randomized controlled trial with 94 employees was conducted for five weeks including two follow-up sessions after one and six months. Daily practice lasted 30 min maximum. Perceived stress and general mental health questionnaires and saliva samples were used. There were significant differences in time factor comparing pre- and post-test of Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) both for PE [Mdiff = 0.10, SE = 0.03, p = 0.03], and for MM [Mdiff = 0.09, SE = 0.03, p = 0.03]. Moreover, there were significant differences of interaction factor when comparing MM vs. PE in total score at pre-post [F = −2.62 (6, 168.84), p = 0.02, ω2 = 0.09], favoring PE with medium and high effect sizes. Regarding General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) variable, practicing MM showed significant effects in time factor compared to pre-Fup2. No significant differences were found for IgA. Thus, practicing both MM and PE as recovery strategies during lunch breaks could reduce perceived stress after five weeks of practice, with better results for PE. Moreover, practicing MM could improve mental health with effects for 6 months.
4 June 2023 in Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
Cognitive‐behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT‐I) is the recommended first‐line therapy for adults with chronic insomnia disorder (ID), which is characterized by hyperarousal. Mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) are protocols aimed at stress reduction based on non‐judgmental attention control in the present moment. However, MBIs have been increasingly used without a clear scientific basis. The objective of this analysis was to examine if MBIs could be useful as a component of the CBT‐I therapeutic system through a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non‐randomized studies (NRS) searched in PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane and WoS. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was the primary outcome, while the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a composite sleep variable (CSV) were secondary outcomes. Thirteen articles corresponding to nine studies (three pragmatic RCTs, three explanatory RCTs and three NRS) were included. The omnibus test found that MBIs had a small to medium effect size on ISI nearing signification when comparing active control groups in the pretest–posttest period [Δ = 0.44, p = 0.07], a medium, non‐significant, effect size on PSQI [Δ = 0.52, p = 0.18], and a significant though small effect size on CSV [Δ = 0.05, p < 0.01]. No heterogeneity was found. The analysis could not demonstrate that MBIs, combined with CBT‐I components in some studies, positively affected ID in the general adult population. This was probably due to the lack of pragmatic designs and suitable measuring instruments. Recommendations are made for designing further studies to address these issues.
18 April 2023 in European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology
This study aims to identify whether daily activities during the lunch break, performed before eating, are associated with improvements in several indicators related to recovery from work stress. No existing studies examine the daily effects of sitting mindfulness meditation and aerobic physical exercise practiced during lunch break as daily internal work recovery activities. This three-armed randomized controlled trial was carried out over 22 working days with service sector workers (n = 94, age mean, 46.8) The RCT was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03728062. The mindfulness group received a mindfulness-based intervention (sitting meditation), while the physical exercise group practiced an aerobic exercise program with the same time intervals as the mindfulness group (15–30 minutes); the third group was the control group. We measured daily effects on fatigue, psychological detachment, sleep quality, stress symptoms, and attention problems. Measurements of daily variables were collected through an ad hoc App. Growth curve analysis reveals that mindfulness and physical exercise can effectively reduce fatigue, stress boschphysicalBosch physical exercise significantly improved sleep quality.
Research on mindfulness-based interventions reports mainly on improvements at the group level. Thus, there is a need to elaborate on the individual differences in their effectiveness. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) to examine which personality factors could influence burnout reduction associated with different types of mindfulness practice and (2) to evaluate the interaction between personality factors and the amount of home practice; both aims were controlled for sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 104 Cuban mental health professionals, who participated in a crossover trial, were included. The effect of personality (Cattell’s 16 Personality Factors) was analyzed through regression analysis. First, the results revealed that Emotional Stability and Vigilance could negatively moderate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions. Second, participants who scored low in Sensitivity or Vigilance could benefit more from the body-centered practices (i.e., body scan and Hatha yoga practices), but no significant results for the mind-centered practices (i.e., classical meditation) were found. Third, participants who scored high in Self-reliance could benefit more from informal practice. Other personality factors did not appear to moderate the effect of the interventions, though previous experience in related techniques must be considered. Recommendations and clinical implications are discussed. Trial registration number is NCT03296254 (clinicaltrials.gov).