Dear Editor, While there is a growing interest towards subconscious phenomena globally, experiences like lucid dreaming are under-researched in South Asia and remain largely unrecognized in Pakistan’s academic and clinical settings despite their widely acknowledged psychological significance. International studies have examined the association between lucid dreaming and psychopathology with...
Depression is a prevalent mental health issue among older adults, often exacerbated by chronic illness, social isolation, and age-related cognitive changes. Standard treatments (e.g., pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy) may not always be effective, acceptable, or accessible for this population. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) integrates mindfulness practices with...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In this preregistered pilot study, we conducted a just-in-time ecological momentary intervention to examine the real-life effects of two different one-minute breathing exercises on state anxiety and attention in acute threat situations among university students, with trait anxiety serving as a moderator. METHODS: During acute threat situations, 47 participants...
Background/Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions are widely used to reduce psychological distress. Their long-term neurophysiological correlates remain insufficiently characterized. Using a portable Muse InteraXon® EEG device, this study aimed to evaluate (i) the extent to which a 12-month combined mindfulness and gratitude-based intervention reduces anxiety, depression, and perceived...
Frontiers in PsychologyApril 16, 2026Monica V Weedman, Kutter Callaway, Daniel M Shafer et al.
Introduction: Art has been shown to evoke a range of emotions, yet the mechanisms underlying these responses remain underexplored. Across three studies using between- and within-subjects designs, we examined how viewing original photographic art in virtual reality (VR) influences self-transcendent emotions and related affective states. Method: In Study 1, participants viewed photographs in one...
Employees are severely affected by psychological distress, poor cardiometabolic health, and reduced productivity. Meditation has emerged as a potential strategy to enhance overall health. This systematic review synthesised the effectiveness of meditation for improving employees’ mental health and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) markers across 132 randomised controlled trials (145 intervention groups...
Introduction Music performance anxiety is prevalent among professional musicians and can undermine both wellbeing and performance. Musicians navigating the transition from advanced training to professional careers may be particularly vulnerable due to sustained evaluative exposure and career uncertainty. This study examines whether dispositional mindfulness is associated with music performance...
Background Methamphetamine (MA) addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that impairs physical health, induces mental distress (e.g., anxiety), and triggers abnormal inflammatory and neurotransmitter responses, all contributing to high relapse rates. Mindfulness and yoga interventions may alleviate psychological distress and improve physical well-being in substance users; however, few studies...
BACKGROUND: Chronic stress is a risk factor for the development of anxiety, depression, and comorbid systemic conditions. Ayahuasca (AYA) has been used for hundreds of years and it elicits antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. However, it remains unknown whether AYA elicits a behavioral and biochemical protective effect in chronic stress. AIM OF THE STUDY: Therefore, we evaluated the...
Background: Patients undergoing hemodialysis frequently experience anxiety and reduced spiritual well-being; however, few studies have simultaneously addressed these outcomes using structured mindfulness-based interventions delivered during dialysis sessions. Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of intradialytic mindfulness-based meditation in reducing anxiety and improving spiritual...
Test anxiety is a prevalent problem among adolescents and is closely associated with cognitive and emotional responses to uncertainty. Although intolerance of uncertainty and mindfulness have each been linked to anxiety, their joint role within a unified explanatory model remains insufficiently explored. The present study examined whether mindfulness mediates the relationship between...
Background: Older adults often face challenges such as bereavement, reduced income and loss of purpose after retirement. Despite their societal contributions, exposure to ageism can adversely affect their mental health. According to WHO, around 14% of adults aged 60 and above live with a mental issues like depression, anxiety and stress. Mantras are considered effective for addressing mental...
Chronic ketamine exposure results in psychotic and cognitive symptoms that resemble those found in patients with schizophrenia. Emerging evidence suggests that patients with schizophrenia exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis and decreased levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and BDNF, which are related to the severity of psychotic and cognitive symptoms. Dietary inulin can regulate gut...
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent a universal human capacity for accessing and transforming the subconscious mind, employed across cultures and millennia through diverse contemplative, somatic, pharmacological, ritual, and technological modalities. This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from over 25 distinct disciplines spanning five clusters: (A) contemplative and...
Background: Anxiety is a common psychological problem experienced by patients with Diabetes Mellitus and can negatively affect disease management and quality of life. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) combined with 40 Hz music frequency is that may help reduce anxiety and improve quality of life in patients with chronic diseases. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of...
To the Editor, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental state in which there are early emerging problems in social communication along with fixed behavior patterns. Social difficulties in ASD are characterized by difficulty in interpretation of interpersonal signals such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. Individuals with ASD often present with social...
Anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent class of mental health conditions globally, contributing significantly to disability and economic burden. While traditional diagnostic methods relying on clinician-administered scales and cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) remain foundational, a paradigm shift is underway. This review synthesizes the emerging trends revolutionizing the field,...
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy often experience debilitating physical and psychological symptoms, including cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has emerged as a complementary intervention to alleviate these burdens and enhance quality of life, but evidence in NSCLC populations...
Stress, overthinking and anxiety is one of the main problems taking the toll on youth in today society. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of yoga and meditation as non-pharmacological interventions on psychological distress among students. It got the quantitative research design done on 50 student of Government DSV Sanskrit College, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University,...
Depressive disorders are characterized by persistent negative affect, rumination, and impaired emotion regulation, contributing substantially to global disease burden. As recurrent rumination and negative attentional biases are central cognitive mechanisms of depression, interventions targeting these processes have gained increasing attention. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) effectively...