Beyond Mindfulness Assessed by Questionnaires: The Mindful-Breathing Exercise as an Additional Approach in PTSD and Depression
Mindfulness April 1, 2023 Stella Kümmerle, Thomas Heidenreich, Meike Müller-Engelmann
Mindfulness measured by a brief breathing exercise (MBE) and by a questionnaire (FFMQ) showed positive correlations in healthy controls and people with depression, but not in those with PTSD. The breathing exercise predicted lower hyperarousal and fewer intrusive thoughts in the PTSD group, while the questionnaire predicted fewer depressive symptoms in the depression and control groups. Both clinical groups scored lower on the questionnaire than controls, and showed a trend toward lower scores on the breathing exercise. Findings suggest the breathing exercise adds unique predictive value for PTSD symptoms beyond what questionnaires capture.