Mindfulness Training to Reduce Anxiety in Socially Isolated Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Case Study
Hardiyati Hardiyati, Iyus Yosep, Meita Dhamayanti, Veranita Pandia, Rohman Hikmat
OBM Neurobiology September 15, 2025 DOI: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2503301 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | 17-year-old male adolescent with schizophrenia and comorbid anxiety |
| Intervention | Mindfulness training |
| Duration | 12 sessions, each 10 to 15 minutes |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention counseling Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Social anxiety Psychological intervention Interpersonal communication Social isolation Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Interpersonal relationship Social skills Empathy Brief intervention Social relationship |
| Key findings | Mindfulness training reduced anxiety symptoms and improved social engagement in an adolescent with schizophrenia. |
Abstract
This article aims to evaluate the impact of mindfulness training on Mr. A, a 17-year-old adolescent with schizophrenia experiencing social isolation and severe anxiety. The subject, Mr. A, is a 17-year-old male who presented with significant anxiety symptoms, including excessive worry, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, heart palpitations, rapid breathing, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms were accompanied by behaviors of social withdrawal, emotional detachment, and reluctance to communicate, which are frequently observed in individuals with schizophrenia and comorbid anxiety. The intervention was delivered through 12 individual mindfulness training sessions, each lasting approximately 10 to 15 minutes. The sessions included structured techniques such as identifying personal hopes and concerns, breathing meditation, awareness of bodily sensations, body scanning with an appreciative attitude, expanding moment-to-moment awareness, and accepting thoughts and emotions without judgment. These practices were tailored to the adolescent's psychological and developmental needs within the hospital setting. Following the intervention, Mr. A exhibited improvements in emotional regulation, increased self-awareness, and a noticeable reduction in anxiety symptoms and avoidance behaviors. He also showed enhanced engagement with the treatment environment and better interpersonal responsiveness, as observed by the clinical team and reported by the client. These findings suggest that mindfulness training can be a valuable complementary intervention for managing anxiety and promoting social reconnection in adolescents with schizophrenia. However, given the limitations of this single-case design and the absence of standardized outcome measurements, the results should be interpreted with caution. Further research with larger samples, control groups, and rigorous methodology is recommended to explore the broader applicability and effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in clinical mental health settings.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persistent Palinopsia Following Ingestion of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) Patients who developed persistent palinopsia after LSD ingestion | 1996 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |
| Psilocybin and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Individual with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | 2014 | Case study | n = 1 |
| LSD-Like Panic From Risperidone in Post-LSD Visual Disorder Patients with hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD) | 1996 | Case study | n = 3 |
| Ketamine-Enhanced Psychotherapy: Preliminary Clinical Observations on its Effects in Treating Death Anxiety Terminally-ill people suffering death anxiety | 2007 | Review and case study | n = 2 |
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- An international multi-site, randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based psychoeducation group programme for people with schizophrenia Psychological Medicine April 4, 2017
- The effect of a mindfulness-based intervention in cognitive functions and psychological well-being applied as an early intervention in schizophrenia and high-risk mental state in a Chilean sample: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial Trials May 25, 2017
- Mindfulness Intervention for Improving Psychological Wellbeing Among Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2023
- Mindfulness meditation for Chinese patients with psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophrenia Research September 9, 2021
- Mindfulness-based group therapy for in-patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders - Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial. Schizophrenia Research January 9, 2021