Mindfulness
October 28, 2014
David B Brown, Adrian J. Bravo, Corey Roos et al.
There has been an increasing focus on determining the psychological mechanisms underlying the broad effects of mindfulness on psychological health. Mindfulness has been posited to be related to the construct of reperceiving or decentering, defined as a shift in perspective associated with decreased attachment to one's thoughts and emotions. Decentering is proposed to be a meta-mechanism that...
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
September 9, 2014
Tracey J. Shors, Ryan L Olson, Marsha E Bates et al.
New neurons are generated in the hippocampus each day and their survival is greatly enhanced through effortful learning (Shors, 2014). The numbers of cells produced can be increased by physical exercise (van Praag, Kempermann, & Gage, 1999). These findings inspired us to develop a clinical intervention for humans known as Mental and Physical Training, or MAP Training. Each session consists of...
History of Psychiatry
September 1, 2014
Herman Westerink
Contrary to the often-voiced opinion that the birth of modern psychiatry should be regarded as a victory of enlightened science and rationality over outdated religious beliefs and ecclesiastical authority, it is argued in this article that the emergence of medical and psychiatric approaches to pathology in modernity takes place in the context of intensified religious life and mutual rivalry...
Psycho-Oncology
August 17, 2014
Shelley A Johns, Linda F. Brown, Kathleen A Beck-Coon et al.
Objective: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common, persistent, and disabling symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment. Evidence-based treatments that are acceptable to patients are critically needed. This study examined the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for CRF and related symptoms. Method: A sample of 35 cancer survivors with clinically...
Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
August 1, 2014
David Baumeister, Georgina Barnes, Giovanni Giaroli et al.
Hallucinogens have been part of spiritual practice for millennia, but controversy surrounding their mind-manifesting effects led to their proscription by the mid-20th century, largely without evidence of harm or toxicity and despite nascent data suggesting therapeutic utility in treating depressive illnesses. This review explores their pharmacodynamic actions and the current limited data on...
PLoS One
July 2, 2014
Sholto Radford, Catrin Eames, Kate Brennan et al.
Mindfulness has been suggested to be an important protective factor for emotional health. However, this effect might vary with regard to context. This study applied a novel statistical approach, quantile regression, in order to investigate the relation between trait mindfulness and residual depressive symptoms in individuals with a history of recurrent depression, while taking into account...
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America
July 1, 2014
Deborah R Simkin, Nancy B. Black
This article describes the various forms of meditation and provides an overview of research using these techniques for children, adolescents, and their families. The most researched techniques in children and adolescents are mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, yoga meditation, transcendental meditation, mind-body techniques (meditation, relaxation), and...
Trials
June 10, 2014
Willem Kuyken, Sarah Byford, Richard Byng et al.
Background: Depression is a common and distressing mental health problem that is responsible for significant individual disability and cost to society. Medication and psychological therapies are effective for treating depression and maintenance anti-depressants (m-ADM) can prevent relapse. However, individuals with depression often express a wish for psychological help that can help them...
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
May 7, 2014
Manjit K Khalsa, Julie M Greiner-Ferris, Stefan G Hofmann et al.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, but there is still room for improvement. The aim of the present study was to examine the potential benefit of enriching CBT with kundalini yoga (Y-CBT). Participants consisted of treatment resistant clients at a community mental health clinic. A total of 32 participants enrolled in the study and 22...
PLoS One
April 23, 2014
Fanny Weytens, Olivier Luminet, Lesley L Verhofstadt et al.
Over the past fifteen years, positive psychology research has validated a set of happiness enhancing techniques. These techniques are relatively simple exercises that allow happiness seekers to mimic thoughts and behavior of naturally happy people, in order to increase their level of well-being. Because research has shown that the joint use of these exercises increases their effects,...