The potential role of mindfulness in psychosocial support for dermatology patients.
Kerry Montgomery, Andrew R Thompson
Clinics in dermatology 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2018.08.010 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors argue that mindfulness shows promise for reducing psychosocial distress in people with skin conditions, potentially by lowering physiologic arousal and helping manage maladaptive thoughts. They contend that evidence remains insufficient to identify mindfulness's active ingredients or confirm its effectiveness in dermatology, and call for further research into psychologic interventions for this population. |
Abstract
While it is widely acknowledged that people living with skin conditions can experience higher levels of psychosocial distress than the general population, access to psychologic support in dermatology is limited. Given the physical and psychosocial consequences of living with skin conditions, interventions used within physical and mental health may be beneficial. Mindfulness, defined as "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose in the present moment and non-judgmentally," has shown promise in improving outcomes in both mental and physical health populations, and studies have implicated a role for mindfulness in improving distress associated with skin conditions. The current review explores the theoretical underpinnings of mindfulness, in particular, the role it may play in reducing physiologic arousal and managing maladaptive thought processes. Although mindfulness interventions offer promise in reducing distress associated with skin conditions, further research is required to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of mindfulness and the active ingredient responsible for improving outcomes in dermatology patients. Mindfulness is one potential psychologic intervention and practitioners should be aware of the range of psychologic support options available. The current review also draws attention to the urgent need for further research into the effectiveness of psychologic interventions for dermatology patients.
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
Cites 11
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin May 14, 2012
- What Do We Really Know About Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction? Psychosomatic Medicine 2002
- Mindfulness and psychological process. Emotion February 1, 2010
- Decentering as a Common Link among Mindfulness, Cognitive Reappraisal, and Social Anxiety Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy May 1, 2013
and 6 more in the library