NCT03571386

Mechanisms of Mindfulness-based Interventions

Mechanisms of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 136 (actual)
• Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBIs) are a family of standardized cognitive and behavioral therapies that focus on cultivating mindfulness-related skills for improving maladaptive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. MBIs have been developed for a wide range of problems, disorders, and populations and are increasingly available in a variety of health settings. This mixed methods study proposes to investigate proposed neurobiological, physiological, psycho-social-behavioral, and cognitive mechanisms by which MBIs may improve health outcomes.

Detailed description

The state of mindfulness can be described as a form of meta-awareness in which attention is allocated to the present moment of external and internal sensory or mental experience, without reactivity, and without dwelling on any particular sensory or mental object with judgement or evaluation. Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBIs) are a family of standardized cognitive and behavioral therapies that focus on cultivating mindfulness-related skills for improving maladaptive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes. MBIs have been developed for a wide range of problems, disorders, and populations and are increasingly available in a variety of health settings. Empirically supported MBIs include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT; Segal, Williams, \& Teasdale, 2002), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn, 1982, 1990). Variations on these approaches, including integration of mindfulness training into individual psychotherapy from diverse perspectives, also have been described (Germer, Siegel, \& Fulton, 2005). As the empirical evidence for the efficacy of these interventions continues to grow, the importance of investigating the mechanisms or processes by which they lead to beneficial outcomes is increasingly recognized. This mixed methods study proposes to investigate proposed neurobiological, physiological, psycho-social-behavioral, and cognitive mechanisms by which MBIs may improve health outcomes. Target (mechanism) engagement is expected to facilitate identification of individuals who are most likely to benefit (or not) from MBIs and further develop targeted interventions for optimization of delivery. Although there are very specific aims and hypotheses to be tested, this preliminary exploratory investigation will provide feasibility data and allow for refining existing hypotheses for larger research proposals to be submitted for extramural grant support.

Conditions

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)	Standardized 8-week Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapy group with 26 hrs of in-class training and homework, along with 1 all-day retreat in which core mindfulness skills are developed
BEHAVIORAL	Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR)	Standardized 8-week patient-centered educational approach which uses relatively intensive training in core meditation practices that teaches people how to take better care of themselves using mindfulness skills and live healthier and more adaptive lives.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-01-08
• Primary completion: 2021-07-02
• Completion: 2022-09-30
• First posted: 2018-06-27
• Last updated: 2025-01-31
• Results posted: 2025-01-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States