Brief mentalizing imagery therapy reduces stress and enhances positive psychological traits in family dementia caregivers: mediation by mindfulness.
Paulina Gutierrez-Ramirez, Liliana A. Ramirez Gomez, Miranda Zea, Maren Nyer, Kimberly Dueck, Finale Doshi-Velez, Felipe A Jain
Aging & Mental Health June 24, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2025.2519622 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot randomized controlled trial Longitudinal Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 46 |
| Population | Family dementia caregivers |
| Interventions | Mentalizing imagery therapy Psychosocial support group |
| Duration | 4-week intervention, 4-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Family caregivers Stress/burden Caregiving Eudaimonia Perceived stress Quality of life/well-being Caregiver well-being Mindfulness therapy Psychological resilience |
| Key findings | MIT reduced perceived stress and improved resilience and other positive psychological traits compared to a support group, with changes in mindfulness mediating most outcomes. |
Abstract
Family dementia caregivers exhibit high rates of chronic psychological stress. We aimed to determine the impact of mentalizing imagery therapy (MIT), a mindfulness and guided imagery approach, on perceived stress and positive psychological traits. We further investigated the role of dispositional mindfulness on these effects. This analysis of secondary outcomes drew from a pilot randomized controlled trial (n = 46) of 4-week MIT versus a psychosocial support group for family dementia caregivers. Measures of perceived stress, resilience, and other positive psychological traits were administered at baseline, post-group, and four months. Longitudinal analyses were conducted with mixed linear models, and mediation analyses with bootstrapping, in R. MIT demonstrated statistically significant benefits relative to the support group for perceived stress, resilience, spiritual well-being, and other positive traits. Changes from baseline to post-group in mindfulness significantly mediated the relationships between group and most outcomes. In this pilot trial, MIT reduced perceived stress and improved positive psychological traits. Mediation by dispositional mindfulness was demonstrated. Future research in larger samples should be aimed at confirming the benefits of short-term MIT on reducing stress and improving positive psychological traits, and studying the time course of mediation effects by mindfulness.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 11
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- The Empirical Status of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of 44 Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials Perspectives on Psychological Science February 16, 2021
- Treatment-specific changes in decentering following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus antidepressant medication or placebo for prevention of depressive relapse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology March 12, 2012
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness- and Acceptance-Based Interventions for Informal Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Meta-Analysis The Gerontologist March 2, 2018
- Family dementia caregivers with suicidal ideation improve with mentalizing imagery therapy: Results from a pilot study Journal of Affective Disorders Reports 2024
and 6 more in the library