Evaluation of Breathworks' Mindfulness for Stress 8-week course: Effects on depressive symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, affects, self-compassion, and mindfulness facets in Brazilian health professionals.
Leandro Timm Pizutti, Alicia Carissimi, Lucianne Jobim Valdivia, Carlos Augusto Vieira Ilgenfritz, Juliana Jury Freitas, Daniela Sopezki, Marcelo Marcos Piva Demarzo, Maria Paz Hidalgo
Journal of Clinical Psychology January 28, 2019 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22749 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 84 |
| Population | Primary care health professionals in Brazil |
| Intervention | Breathworks' Mindfulness for Stress 8-week course |
| Duration | 8-week course, with pre- and post-intervention assessments |
| Measures | Beck Depression Inventory, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Self-Compassion Scale, Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire |
| Topics | Depression Meditation Breathwork |
| Keywords | Humans Affective symptoms Stress, psychological Empathy Self concept Mental disorders Adult Middle aged Health personnel Brazil Female Behavioral medicine Occupational health Primary care Depressive symptoms |
| Key findings | The 8-week Breathworks Mindfulness for Stress course was associated with significant decreases in depressive symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, and negative affect, and with improvements in self-compassion and the observing and non-reactivity facets of mindfulness. The authors conclude the program is a feasible group intervention for improving mental health in healthcare professionals. |
Abstract
Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of the Breathworks' Mindfulness for Stress 8-week course on depressive and psychiatric symptoms, and on positive and negative affects, compared with active control and wait list.
Method: A total of 84 primary care health professionals enrolled in the study, in quasi-experimental research design. The scales Beck Depression Inventory, Self-Reporting Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Self-Compassion Scale, and Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire were applied before and after the interventions.
Results: Depressive symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, and negative affects had a statistically significant decrease before postintervention evaluations in Mindfulness for Stress group, and the levels of self-compassion and observe and non-reactivity dimensions of mindfulness improved after the intervention.
Conclusions: The Mindfulness for Stress program can be considered a feasible group intervention to improve the mental health of healthcare professionals.
Comparable studies
Other experimental studies on breathwork, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of the breathworks mindfulness‐based pain management programme: effects on well‐being and multiple measures of mindfulness Chronic pain patients | 2009 | Pilot investigation; quasi-experimental with intervention and comparison groups | |
| Neural Correlates of Non-ordinary States of Consciousness in Pranayama Practitioners: The Role of Slow Nasal Breathing Experienced meditators | 2022 | Within-subjects comparison | n = 12 |
| Measure of Significance of Holotropic Breathwork in the Development of Self-Awareness. Participants referred from Danish Holotropic Breathwork facilitators, including 9... | 2015 | Quasi-experiment with multiple case studies and repeated measures | n = 20 |
| An Effectiveness of Holotropic Breathwork on Stress Management among Higher Secondary Students in Selected Schools of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh Higher secondary students at Sardar Patel Intermediate College, Mandhana, Kanpur, India | 2026 | Quasi-experimental study | n = 60 |
| A Study To Assess The Effectiveness Of Video Assisted Pranayama On Stress Among Students Of Selected College In Chennai College students at Saveetha College of Engineering, Chennai | 2026 | True experimental research design | n = 100 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Positive psychology: mindfulness and its role within mental health nursing British Journal of Mental Health Nursing November 2, 2019
- Improving patient-centered mental health promotion in primary care in vulnerable communities through mindfulness training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Frontiers in Medicine 2024
- The impact of a mindfulness-based stress reduction training program on depression, anxiety, and stress in Moroccan nurses Kontakt August 15, 2023
- Mindfulness-based pain management for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain: a randomized controlled trial Frontiers in Medicine September 28, 2026
- Effect of mindful breathing on anxiety, depression, and quality of life among women with endometriosis. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology February 5, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 32
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- 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
and 27 more in the library