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Jon Kabat‐zinn

University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, UMass Memorial Health Care

10 papers in the library · 4,828 citations · publishing 1984-2017

Papers

Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation

Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003 Richard J. Davidson, Jon Kabat‐zinn, Jessica R. Schumacher et al. 2,924 citations

An 8-week mindfulness meditation training program for healthy employees increased left-sided anterior brain activation, a pattern linked to positive emotion, and boosted antibody titers after an influenza vaccine compared with a wait-list control group. The magnitude of the brain activation increase predicted the size of the antibody response. These results indicate that a brief meditation intervention can measurably alter brain and immune function.

What defines mindfulness-based programs? The warp and the weft

Psychological Medicine December 29, 2016 Rebecca S. Crane, Judson A. Brewer, Christina Feldman et al. 861 citations

A framework defines essential characteristics of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) like MBSR and MBCT, distinguishing them from other interventions. MBPs draw from contemplative traditions, science, medicine, psychology, and education; are grounded in a model addressing causes of human distress and pathways to relief; foster present-moment focus, decentering, and an approach orientation; cultivate qualities such as joy, compassion, wisdom, equanimity, and self-regulation; and involve sustained intensive meditation training, experiential inquiry, and exercises. The framework aims to support clarity for systematic research and maintain integrity as MBPs expand into healthcare, education, criminal justice, and workplaces.

Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma

Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011 J. Mark G. Williams, Jon Kabat‐zinn 390 citations

This special issue on Mindfulness integrates mindfulness-based approaches into medicine, psychology, neuroscience, healthcare, and education. The guest editors explain the rationale, aims, and intentions behind the collection, highlighting the growing interest and application of mindfulness across diverse fields. The issue brings together contributions that explore the theory, practice, and empirical evidence of mindfulness, aiming to advance understanding and foster interdisciplinary dialogue. It underscores the potential of mindfulness to enhance well-being, clinical outcomes, and educational practices, while also addressing challenges and future directions for research and implementation.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Massachusetts Correctional Facilities

The Prison Journal June 1, 2007 Marlene Samuelson, James Carmody, Jon Kabat‐zinn et al. 239 citations

Mindfulness-based stress-reduction courses offered in drug units across six Massachusetts prisons led to significant improvements in hostility, self-esteem, and mood disturbance among 1,350 inmates who completed 113 courses. Women showed greater improvements than men, and men in a minimum-security, pre-release facility improved more than those in four medium-security facilities. These findings support further research and broader use of mindfulness-based stress reduction in correctional settings.

Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World

Mindfulness June 29, 2017 Jon Kabat‐zinn 113 citations

The author offers a personal perspective on the original core aspirations behind introducing mindfulness into mainstream society, initially through medicine and healthcare as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and later into education, business, social justice, politics, and global environmental responsibility. The paper reflects on the practice's spread and growing evidence of its multifaceted efficacy, emphasizing its potential as a way of being and a moral imperative for addressing planetary challenges.

Becoming conscious: the science of mindfulness

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences November 1, 2013 Steve Paulson, Richard J. Davidson, Amishi P. Jha et al. 108 citations

Many people go through life on autopilot, unaware of their conscious experiences. In a moderated discussion, neuroscientists Richard Davidson and Amishi Jha and clinical mindfulness expert Jon Kabat-Zinn explore how consciousness relates to mental and physical health, how mindfulness training can make the mind more flexible and adaptable, and recent neuroscience findings on transforming consciousness through contemplative practice. This is an edited transcript of the February 6, 2013 event at the New York Academy of Sciences.

Three-Year Follow-up and Clinical Implications of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Intervention in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders

International Journal of Yoga Therapy January 1, 1998 John M. Miller, Ken Fletcher, Jon Kabat‐zinn 81 citations

An 8-week outpatient group stress reduction program based on mindfulness meditation produced lasting reductions in anxiety and panic symptoms. Twenty of 22 medical patients with anxiety disorders showed significant improvements on the Hamilton and Beck anxiety and depression scales immediately after the program and at 3-month follow-up. A 3-year follow-up of 18 of the original 22 subjects found that these gains were maintained on anxiety, depression, panic scores, number and severity of panic attacks, and measures of mobility and fear. Most subjects continued meditation practice. The long-term benefits suggest the intervention is effective for anxiety disorders.

Reproducibility and four year follow-up of a training program in mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain

Pain January 1, 1984 Jon Kabat‐zinn, Leslie Lipworth, Robert Burney et al. 71 citations

Among 340 adults with chronic low back pain, an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program was compared with usual care. At 26 weeks, MBSR led to greater improvement in back pain and functional limitations than usual care. The authors suggest that MBSR may be an effective treatment option for patients with chronic low back pain.

ALTERATIONS IN BRAIN AND IMMUNE FUNCTION PRODUCED BY MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: THREE CAVEATS: RESPONSE

Psychosomatic Medicine January 1, 2004 Richard J. Davidson, Jon Kabat‐zinn 35 citations

Mindfulness meditation, particularly the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program, may positively influence immune system function. The text suggests that meditation practices can lead to changes in brain function and immune response, possibly through psychological and neurological mechanisms. However, the specific effects and their magnitude are not detailed in this abstract.

Die heilende Kraft der Achtsamkeit

PiD - Psychotherapie im Dialog September 1, 2006 Jon Kabat‐zinn, Saki Santorelli, Petra Meibert et al. 6 citations

Jon Kabat-Zinn developed an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in 1979, consisting of eight group sessions and a full-day silent retreat, with core practices including sitting and walking meditation, yoga, and body scan. The program aims to cultivate mindfulness in daily life and mobilize self-healing resources. Participants include people with chronic pain, medical diagnoses, or those feeling stressed and disconnected. The practice fosters acceptance and awareness, helping individuals recognize early signs of conditions like migraines or panic attacks, thereby reducing automatic reactions. Kabat-Zinn and Santorelli emphasize that mindfulness is a lifelong path, not a quick fix, and that it can transform one's relationship with thoughts and emotions, potentially leading to healing and personal growth.