Mindfulness and Psychotherapy
FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry 2010 DOI: 10.1176/foc.8.1.foc19 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation techniques Mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychotherapist Psychoanalysis |
| Citations | 369 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training integrated with cognitive behavior therapies effectively reduces suffering in affective disorders and enhances well-being, with preliminary evidence that clinician mindfulness improves therapy outcomes. |
Abstract
Mindfulness is a natural human mental state of moment-to-moment awareness of present experience. It is a skill that can be trained using meditation techniques that sustain focus on the present moment with a nonjudgmental attitude. Mindfulness training has been shown to be effective in relieving the suffering of numerous medical and psychological conditions while enhancing well-being. In particular, affective disorders including anxiety, depression, and personality disorders are particularly well suited to demonstrate benefit to patients when integrating mindfulness meditation techniques with usual psychotherapies, primarily cognitive behavior therapies. In addition, early evidence shows that when the clinician is practicing mindfulness, there is a positive impact on the outcome of the therapy. Mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions are an important technique for clinicians to be aware of in the treatment of their patients' distress. Further study using larger sample sizes and more controlled conditions is warranted to establish the benefit and efficacy of mindfulness-based psychotherapies.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 50
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- A Model of Mindful Parenting: Implications for Parent–Child Relationships and Prevention Research Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review May 2, 2009
- The meeting of meditative disciplines and western psychology: A mutually enriching dialogue. American Psychologist 2006
- Mindfulness and Counseling Self‐Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Attention and Empathy Counselor Education and Supervision September 1, 2009
- Exploring the Effects of a Mindfulness Program for Students of Secondary School International Journal of Knowledge Society Research 2011
and 45 more in the library
Cites 20
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders American Journal of Psychiatry July 1, 1992
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
and 15 more in the library