Feasibility and preliminary clinical outcomes of a mindfulness-based stress reduction program among psychiatry and child neuropsychiatry residents: A pilot study
Antimo Natale, Cecilia Chiarenza, Gabriele Avincola, Carla Benedicta Romano, Giuseppina Morabito, Letizia Ferrante, Laura Bongiorno, Fakhrou Abdulnaser, Roberta Pastorino, Pasquale Caponnetto, Maria Salvina Signorelli
Health Psychology Research July 29, 2026 DOI: 10.36922/hpr0136 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized controlled pilot feasibility study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 39 |
| Population | Psychiatry and child neuropsychiatry residents |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The MBSR program was feasible and acceptable among mental health trainees. Exploratory analyses showed a modest reduction in emotional exhaustion in the intervention group compared to controls, but no significant between-group differences were found for other outcomes. |
Abstract
Background: Burnout, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and impaired mentalizing are common among mental health trainees, potentially impacting well-being and quality of care. Mindfulness-based interventions have shown promise in mitigating these issues. Incorporating such programs into postgraduate training may offer proactive support during a critical developmental stage.
Objective: This study primarily aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program among psychiatry and child neuropsychiatry residents. Secondary exploratory aims included assessing preliminary changes in burnout, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and mentalizing outcomes.
Methods: This single-center, non-randomized controlled pilot feasibility study included psychiatry and child neuropsychiatry residents. Participation in the intervention group was based on willingness to attend an MBSR program alongside standard institutional support services. A comparison group was identified among residents from the same departments who received standard support only. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant satisfaction. Validated scales assessed burnout, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and mentalizing before and after intervention.
Results: Thirty-nine participants were included in the final analysis (19 in the intervention group; 20 in the control group). Feasibility outcomes indicated good acceptability and participant satisfaction. Exploratory analyses showed a modest reduction in emotional exhaustion in the intervention group compared to controls (p = 0.0487), while no significant between-group differences emerged for other outcomes.
Conclusion: This pilot study supports the feasibility and acceptability of implementing an MBSR program among mental health trainees. Exploratory findings suggest possible effects on emotional exhaustion, although results should be interpreted cautiously. Larger controlled studies are needed to assess clinical effectiveness.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |