Preliminary evaluation of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for mental health professionals
Alana Dobie, Alison Tucker, Madeleine Ferrari, Jeffrey M Rogers
Australasian Psychiatry February 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1177/1039856215618524 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preliminary mixed-methods pilot study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Practising mental health professionals in a public hospital mental health unit |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) |
| Dose | daily 15-minute MBSR training; three 30-minute education sessions |
| Duration | 8 weeks, measured before and immediately after participation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Participant feedback, both quantitative and qualitative, indicated a perceived reduction in psychological distress after the brief MBSR programme. The authors conclude that brief MBSR can be incorporated into full-time mental health professional workloads and may address a significant unmet workplace need. |
Abstract
Objectives: Mental health professionals are particularly susceptible to occupational stress; however, there are limited formal programmes to address the problem. This paper discusses the preliminary results of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme for practising professionals in a public hospital mental health unit.
Method: A mixed-group of nine mental health professionals participated in eight weeks of daily 15-minute MBSR training interspersed with three 30-minute education sessions developed by the authors (AD and AT). Levels of psychological distress and mindfulness skill were measured before and immediately after participation.
Results: Following the brief MBSR programme, quantitative and qualitative participant feedback revealed a perceived reduction in psychological distress.
Conclusions: A brief MBSR programme can be incorporated into the full-time workloads of practicing mental health professionals, potentially addressing a significant unmet workplace need.
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 15
- The impact of mindfulness on well-being and performance in the workplace: an inclusive systematic review of the empirical literature European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology April 19, 2017
- Evaluación de una Intervención Mindfulness en Equipos de Cuidados Paliativos Psychosocial Intervention April 24, 2018
- Positive psychology: mindfulness and its role within mental health nursing British Journal of Mental Health Nursing November 2, 2019
- The mental health of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Beneficial effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction. Heliyon June 30, 2024
- Programas basados en mindfulness para el tratamiento de la fatiga por compasión en personal sanitario: una revisión Terapia psicológica August 1, 2018
and 10 more in the library
Cites 7
- Assessment of Mindfulness by Self-Report Assessment September 1, 2004
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management May 1, 2005
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
- Teaching self-care to caregivers: Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the mental health of therapists in training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology May 1, 2007
- The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout, Part II Holistic Nursing Practice 2005
and 2 more in the library