The Acceptability, Feasibility and Potential Outcomes of an Individual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Hearing Voices.
Stephanie Louise, Susan L. Rossell, Neil Thomas
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy March 2019 DOI: 10.1017/s1352465818000425 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | People with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and persisting voices (auditory hallucinations) |
| Intervention | Individual Mindfulness Program for Voices (iMPV) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention with assessments pre- and post-intervention and at 2-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Attention Auditory verbal hallucinations Psychosis Voice-hearing Voices |
| Key points | The 4-week individual Mindfulness Program for Voices was described as acceptable, engaging, and safe, with low attrition and high practice engagement. Pre-post outcomes suggested small to moderate reductions in the negative impact of voices, depression, and voice-related disruption, and large changes in mindful responding and attentional switching, which the authors propose as potential mechanisms of change warranting further randomized controlled trial investigation. |
Abstract
A prominent area of advancement in the psychological treatment for people with persisting psychosis has been the application of mindfulness-based therapies. Recent literature has recommended the investigation of focused mindfulness interventions for voices (auditory hallucinations) as a specific experience. To date, only mindfulness programs in group format have been examined. This non-randomized pilot study aimed to assess the acceptability, feasibility and potential outcomes of an individual mindfulness program for persistent voices on the negative impact of voices on the subjective experience of mental health and wellbeing, depression and voice-related distress and disruption. Also, it aimed to identify potential psychological and neurocognitive mechanisms of change. A new 4-week individual Mindfulness Program for Voices (iMPV) was developed, and piloted with a group of 14 participants with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and persisting voices. Participants completed clinical and neurocognitive measures pre- and post-intervention and at 2-month follow-up. Results revealed low attrition rates, high formal practice engagement levels and positive participant feedback. Pre-post outcomes suggested small to moderate effects for a reduction in the negative impact of voices on experience, depression and disruption. Large effects for changes in mindful responding and attentional switching were also identified. Our findings suggest that this novel treatment protocol is appropriate, engaging and safe for persistent voice hearers. Findings for mindful responding and attentional switching suggest these to be potential mechanisms of change for further investigation. Further RCTs are warranted to ascertain the feasibility and efficacy for focused mindfulness interventions for voices of individual format.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Biological mechanism study of meditation and its application in mental disorders General Psychiatry July 13, 2020
- Neuroplastic Effects of Meditation-Based Neurofeedback on the Pathological Brain 2023 11th International Conference on Affective Computing and Intelligent Interaction Workshops and Demos September 10, 2023
Cites 5
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