Mental Health

Improve Mental Health and Well-Being with Yoga Practice

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Zen lounges, yoga helping HCA Houston nurses relieve stress

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “A Systematic Review of Yoga Interventions on the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals and Students” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12068460/ ) Arya and colleagues reviewed and summarized the published research studies on the effectiveness of yoga interventions on the mental health of nurses and nursing students. They report that the published studies found that yoga interventions significantly improved mental health including reductions in stress, depression, and burnout and significant increases in sleep quality, mindfulness, and life satisfaction.

 

Yoga is effective in improving mental health and well-being among nurses and students.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Arya RG, Srivastava D, Divya BR, Madhu, Bhargav H. A Systematic Review of Yoga Interventions on the Mental Health of Nursing Professionals and Students. Int J Yoga. 2025;18(1):13-26. doi:10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_195_24

 

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of yoga interventions on preventing and alleviating mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, and other related factors among nursing professionals and students. The review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024512366). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in Google Scholar and PubMed using keywords such as “nursing students,” “nursing professionals,” “yoga interventions,” and “mental health.” Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2024, involving nursing population and yoga-based interventions targeting mental health outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed using the CASP tool. The search identified 14 RCTs (967 participants, predominantly female, age range – 18 to 69 years) that met the eligibility criteria. The yoga intervention varied in duration (10 minutes to 1 hour per session), frequency (once to five times weekly), and protocols (Laughter yoga being the most common). Mental health outcomes such as stress, anxiety, burnout, mindfulness, depression, quality of sleep, and life satisfaction were assessed. Most studies reported significant improvements in these outcomes in the yoga intervention groups compared to control groups. Nine studies showed a significant stress reduction, and 3 studies found a decrease in anxiety. No adverse effects were reported, and dropout rates varied between 0% to 52.1%. Yoga was found to be effective in improving mental health and well-being among nursing professionals and students. Yoga mainly reduced stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression, suggesting its potential as a low-cost, accessible intervention for mental health management in this population. Future studies should focus on refining protocols and exploring long-term effects to establish yoga as an integral part of mental health care for nursing professionals and students.

 

Mindfulness is not Improved by Neurofeedback

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Figure 1

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Consumer-Grade Neurofeedback With Mindfulness Meditation: Meta-Analysis” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12046271/) Treves and colleagues reviewed, summarized, and performed a meta-analysis of the published research studies on the effectiveness of neurofeedback, produced by a readily available commercial neurofeedback device, on mindfulness, and physiological and psychological health. They report that the published findings found only a small positive effect on psychological distress but, in general, no effects on mindfulness or physiological and psychological health.

 

Neurofeedback does no improve mindfulness.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Treves I, Bajwa Z, Greene KD, et al. Consumer-Grade Neurofeedback With Mindfulness Meditation: Meta-Analysis. J Med Internet Res. 2025;27:e68204. Published 2025 Apr 17. doi:10.2196/68204

 

Abstract

Background

There is burgeoning interest in the application of neuroscientific technology to facilitate meditation and lead to beneficial psychological outcomes. One popular approach is using consumer-grade neurofeedback devices to deliver feedback on brain targets during meditation (mindfulness-based neurofeedback). It is hypothesized that optimizing brain targets like alpha and theta band activity may allow meditators to experience deeper mindfulness and thus beneficial outcomes.

Objective

This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the impacts of consumer-grade mindfulness-based neurofeedback compared with control conditions. Included studies involved mindfulness practice operationalized as open monitoring or focused attention meditation. This study was preregistered.

Methods

A total of 16 randomized controlled training trials, as well as 5 randomized within-participant designs were included, encompassing 763 and 167 unique participants, respectively. Effects were categorized outcomes (ie, psychological distress, cognitive function, and physiological health) and process variables (ie, state mindfulness and brain measures). Study risk of bias, reporting bias, and publication bias were assessed.

Results

Samples were typically small (n=30-50), and the majority of studies used mindfulness apps as controls. To deliver neurofeedback, most studies used the Muse device (11/16 randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). There was a modest effect for decreases in psychological distress compared with controls (k=11, g=–0.16, P=.03), and heterogeneity was low (I2< 0.25). However, there was no evidence for improvements in cognition (k=7, g=0.07, P=.48), mindfulness (k=9, g=0.02, P=.83), and physiological health (k=7, g=0.11, P=.57) compared to controls. Mechanistic modulation of brain targets was not found in RCTs or within-participant designs. Sex (male or female), age, clinical status, study quality, active or passive controls, sample size, and neurofeedback duration did not moderate effects. There was some evidence for reporting bias, but no evidence of publication bias. Adverse effects were not assessed in 19 out of 21 studies and not found in the 2 studies that assessed them.

Conclusions

Assertions that consumer-grade devices can allow participants to modulate their brains and deepen their meditations are not currently supported. It is possible that neurofeedback effects may rely on “neurosuggestion” (placebo effects of neurotechnology). Future research should examine more extensive calibration and individualization of devices, larger sample sizes, and gold-standard sham-controlled RCTs.

 

Spirituality has Positive Relationships with Well-being and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases

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Spirituality, religion linked to heart health among Black Americans | National Institutes of Health (NIH)

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “The Effect of Medication Adherence and Spirituality in Quality of Life of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11855639/) Kavvadia and colleagues examined the relationships of spirituality with health and quality of life in patients with the  Rheumatic Diseases of rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, They report that spirituality is significantly associated with the quality of life of these patients and their physical and psychological health.

 

Spirituality was associated with enhanced well-being and quality of life in patients with Rheumatic Diseases.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Kavvadia M, Saridi M, Toska A, et al. The Effect of Medication Adherence and Spirituality in Quality of Life of Patients with Rheumatic Diseases. Healthcare (Basel). 2025;13(4):436. Published 2025 Feb 18. doi:10.3390/healthcare13040436

 

Abstract

Background: Spirituality is significantly associated with the quality of life of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases, helping them to cope with pain and improve emotional well-being. There is a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between spirituality, quality of life and treatment adherence in patients with rheumatic diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as relevant studies, especially in the Greek population, are limited. Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of medication adherence and spirituality on the quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus from the region of Crete. Data were collected via a self-administrated questionnaire consisting of four parts, including questions regarding demographic and clinical information; the WHOQoL-BREF, 3, FACIT-Sp-12, and SMAQ questionnaires were used. The level of statistical significance was set at α = 0.05 for all analyses. Results: The study sample consisted of 115 participants, with the majority being women (90%). The majority of the participants suffered from RA (62%), while 38% suffered from SLE. The mean age of the participants was 49.15 years (SD = 11.7), and 46% described their health as good. We found that the dimensions of spirituality are positively related to the dimensions of quality of life. The peace dimension has a strong correlation with psychological health (r = 0.679, p < 0.001) and overall quality of life (QOL Global, r = 0.671, p < 0.001). Meaning also shows a positive correlation with psychological health (r = 0.563, p < 0.001) and overall quality of life (r = 0.506, p < 0.001), whereas adherence to medication shows a low but positive correlation with overall spirituality (r = 0.192, p = 0.040). Conclusions: The findings support that spirituality can be a protective mechanism, improving the mental resilience and adaptability of patients. This study has the potential to contribute to the development of evidence-based guidelines for the integration of spiritual care into clinical practice, with the objective of enhancing the psychological well-being and overall quality of life of patients with rheumatic diseases.

Improve Mental Health with Mindfulness

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What Is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)?

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of Neurocognitive Outcomes and Applications for Mental Health and Well-Being” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11900371/ ) Gkintoni and colleagues reviewed and summarized the published research studies of the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on mental health. They report that MBCT significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and increased cognition and the regulation of emotions.

 

So, mindfulness-based therapy improves mental health.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Gkintoni E, Vassilopoulos SP, Nikolaou G. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Clinical Practice: A Systematic Review of Neurocognitive Outcomes and Applications for Mental Health and Well-Being. J Clin Med. 2025 Mar 3;14(5):1703. doi: 10.3390/jcm14051703. PMCID: PMC11900371.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This systematic review outlines the neurocognitive outcomes and mechanisms of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) that influence subjective well-being. MBCT is a clinical intervention that integrates cognitive therapy with mindfulness practices to prevent depression relapses and improve mental health. Methods: The review focuses on the effects of MBCT on brain structure changes, cognitive processes, and emotional regulation, which are related to improvements in subjective well-being. A total of 87 studies were included in the review to assess the effectiveness of MBCT. Results: Evidence from the studies highlights the effectiveness of MBCT in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. MBCT was also shown to enhance cognitive functions and emotional regulation across diverse populations. These findings point to the potential for MBCT to induce neuroplastic changes in the brain and widen the applicability of the treatment for a variety of disorders, calling for further research into long-term benefits and underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Conclusions: The review emphasizes the potential of MBCT to bring about neuroplastic changes, calling for further research into its long-term benefits and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. This study underlines the need to incorporate multidisciplinary measures by integrating psychology and neuroscience to comprehend comprehensively the effects of MBCT.

 

Yoga improves physiological and psychological states

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Yoga for Exercise - The Nutrition Source

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Long-term effects of yoga-based practices on neural, cognitive, psychological, and physiological outcomes in adults: a scoping review and evidence map.” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11884082/ ) Campelo and colleagues review and summarize the effects of long-term yoga practice on the physiological and psychological states of yoga practitioners. They report that yoga practice produces long-term changes in brain systems underlying sensorimotor, interoceptive, emotion regulation, and executive functions and in the periphery increases in parasympathetic-driven autonomic, hormonal and immune responses. Yoga practice also reduces negative emotions, psychopathology, and emotional reactivity as well as improved memory and cognition.

 

Long-term yoga practice positively alters the physiological and psychological state of the practitioners.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Campelo G, de Araújo JR, Aristizabal JP, de Souza W, de Castilho GM. Long-term effects of yoga-based practices on neural, cognitive, psychological, and physiological outcomes in adults: a scoping review and evidence map. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025 Mar 6;25(1):92. doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-04825-x. PMID: 40050913; PMCID: PMC11884082.

 

Abstract

Background

Compared with short-term practices, long-term yoga might promote differential qualitative and quantitative outcomes. Following JBI’s and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this scoping review followed an apriori and systematic protocol to document the long-term effects of yoga on neural, cognitive, psychological, and physiological outcomes, provide evidence maps for each yoga component, and summarize results identifying knowledge gaps and promising directions.

Methods

Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, and PubPsych) were last searched in March 2023. Studies were included if they evaluated adults with > 1 year of practice, specified yoga-based practice(s) of interest, measured neural, cognitive, psychological, and/or physiological outcomes, were written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, presented original data, and mentioned search terms in the title/abstract. Evidence maps for each yoga component followed a 4-level structure of outcome category, method, study design and literature size. Qualitative summaries followed the same structure, to facilitate information retrieval.

Results

Out of 2270 screened studies, 65 were included (meditative studies = 36, predominantly postural studies = 25, breathing practice studies = 8). Physiologicaland neural outcomes were the most common, followed by psychological and cognitive outcomes. Although heterogeneous, neural results reveal structural and functional changes related to sensorimotor, interoceptive, emotion regulation, and executive functions. Physiologically, most studies have associated long-term practice with parasympathetic-driven autonomic, hormonal and immune responses, but some studies revealed sympathetic-driven or mixed responses, maybe due to the specific technique or individual differences. Psychological outcomes included lower levels of negative affect, psychopathological symptoms, and emotional reactivity. Cognitive measures have shown improved memory/cognition for older adults, but mixed or null effects for other constructs. Commonly, however, long-term practitioners demonstrated improved neural or physiological efficiency while performing cognitive tasks.

Conclusions

Future research should provide clear descriptions of the investigated yoga practice, employ more experimental paradigms, and refine statistical reports and models. We encourage researchers to work with specific overarching theoretical frameworks to refine research predictions, such as the neurovisceral integration model or predictive coding models; to consider motivational, cultural, and contextual factors that might influence long-term outcomes; and to develop systematic reviews and meta-analyses as next steps of evidence summary.

 

Mindfulness Reduces Stress and Improves Mental Health in Teachers

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Figure 1

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Alleviating occupational stress in Chinese junior high school teachers: the role of mindfulness-based interventions” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11813917/ ) Bian and colleagues examined the effectiveness of an online mindfulness course on the mental health and stress levels of junior High School teachers. They found that mindfulness training reduced occupational stress and improved mental health and coping self-efficacy in the teachers.

 

So, improve mental health and reduce stress in teachers with mindfulness.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Bian H, Jiang H. Alleviating occupational stress in Chinese junior high school teachers: the role of mindfulness-based interventions. Front Psychol. 2025 Jan 29;16:1479507. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1479507. PMID: 39944052; PMCID: PMC11813917.

 

Abstract

Introduction

Occupational stress is a significant issue among junior high school teachers in China, contributing to negative outcomes such as reduced mental health, impaired coping abilities, and decreased job satisfaction.

Methods

This quasi-experimental study investigates the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on occupational stress and mental health among junior high school teachers in China. A total of 118 teachers participated in the study, with a randomly assigned experimental group undergoing an 4-week mindfulness training program, while the control group received no intervention. Standardized measures of occupational stress, mental health, coping self-efficacy, and mindfulness were used to assess the outcomes before and after the intervention.

Findings

The findings revealed that teachers who participated in the mindfulness program experienced significant reductions in occupational stress and improvements in mental health and coping self-efficacy compared to the control group. Additionally mindfulness levels increased significantly among participants who underwent the training.

Discussion

The results suggest that mindfulness-based interventions can effectively alleviate occupational stress and enhance psychological wellbeing among junior high school teachers in China, highlighting the importance of implementing such programs to support educators in managing stress and maintaining mental health.

 

Mindfulness Training Promotes Perinatal Mental Health

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How New Moms Can Have a Positive, Mindful Postpartum JourneyBy John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

In today’s Research News article “Development and Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based Mobile Intervention for Perinatal Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Trial” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11786135/ ) Park and colleagues performed a randomized clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of a 4-week smartphone-based mindfulness program to a wait-list control condition on the mental health of pregnant women. They found that mindfulness training produced significant reductions in anxiety and increases in emotional well-being, mindfulness, and maternal-fetal attachment.

 

So, mindfulness training improves the mental health of pregnant women.

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on the Contemplative Studies Blog  http://contemplative-studies.org

 

Study Summary

 

Park S, Cho HY, Park JY, Chung K, Jhung K. Development and Evaluation of a Mindfulness-Based Mobile Intervention for Perinatal Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2025 Jan 17;27:e56601. doi: 10.2196/56601. PMID: 39823585; PMCID: PMC11786135.

 

Abstract

Background

Perinatal mental health problems, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, warrant particularly close monitoring and intervention, but they are often unaddressed in both obstetric and psychiatric clinics, with limited accessibility and treatment resources. Mobile health interventions may provide an effective and more accessible solution for addressing perinatal mental health. Development and evaluation of a mobile mental health intervention specifically for pregnant women are warranted.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-week, self-administered mobile mindfulness intervention in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress, and improving emotional well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and mindfulness skills in a general population of pregnant women.

Methods

Pregnant women were recruited and randomized to an intervention or a wait-list control group. The intervention group participated in a self-administered 4-week smartphone-based mindfulness program. Anxiety, depression, and stress were assessed as primary outcomes at baseline and postintervention. Secondary outcomes were mental health well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and skills of mindfulness. The usability of the mobile intervention was also evaluated.

Results

A total of 133 pregnant women were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=66) or the control group (n=67). The overall dropout rate was 30% (39/133). Anxiety scores of the intervention group significantly decreased from baseline to postintervention (P=.03, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test), whereas no significant changes were observed in the control group. Depression and stress scores showed no significant changes. Emotional well-being significantly improved in the intervention group (P=.01). Improvements were observed in maternal-fetal attachment, particularly in attributing characteristics to the fetus (P=.003) and in differentiating the self from the fetus (P=.006). Mindfulness awareness also showed significant improvement (P=.008). Significant between-group effects were identified for mindfulness awareness (P=.006) and attributing characteristics to the fetus (P=.002). After applying the false discovery rate corrections, within-group improvements in emotional well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and mindfulness awareness remained significant, while between-group differences for emotional well-being and differentiation were not significant.

Conclusions

A mobile mindfulness program effectively reduced anxiety and improved emotional well-being, maternal-fetal attachment, and mindfulness awareness in the general population of pregnant women. Mobile interventions may offer a cost-effective and feasible method for promoting perinatal mental health.

 

Improve Long-Covid Symptoms with Mindfulness

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Improve Long-Covid Symptoms with Mindfulness

 

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” ~Robin S. Sharma

 

Mindfulness training has been shown to improve health and well-being in healthy individuals. They have also been found to be effective for a large array of medical and psychiatric conditions, either stand-alone or in combination with more traditional therapies. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the mental and physical health of the population. It has created intense stress both for frontline workers but also for people simply isolating at home. Mindfulness is known to decrease the psychological and physical responses to stress  Long COVID-19 symptoms have emerged as a major problem. The evidence that mindfulness practices are effective in treating these long covid symptoms has been accumulating. So, it makes sense to summarize what has been learned.

 

In today’s Research News article “Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning.” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9653042/ ) Porter and Jason review and summarize the published research on the effectiveness of mindfulness practices for the treatment of long covid symptoms of Covid-19.

 

They report that the published studies found that mindfulness practices reduce fatigue, anxiety, and depression, and improve physical and mental functioning in long covid. They further postulate that these improvements may be mediated by the effect of mindfulness practices on the immunological and inflammatory systems. These include altering pro-inflammatory and immune function gene expressions.

 

So, the published studies suggest that mindfulness practices improve the mental and physical symptoms of long covid.

 

“Remember the blue sky. It may at times be obscured by clouds, but it is always there.” — Andy Puddicombe

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on Twitter @MindfulResearch

 

Study Summary

 

Porter N, Jason LA. Mindfulness Meditation Interventions for Long COVID: Biobehavioral Gene Expression and Neuroimmune Functioning. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2022 Nov 8;18:2599-2626. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S379653. PMID: 36387947; PMCID: PMC9653042.

 

Abstract

Some individuals infected with SARS CoV-2 have developed Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS CoV-2 infection (PASC) or what has been referred to as Long COVID. Efforts are underway to find effective treatment strategies for those with Long COVID. One possible approach involves alternative medical interventions, which have been widely used to treat and manage symptoms of a variety of medical problems including post-viral infections. Meditation has been found to reduce fatigue and unrefreshing sleep, and for those with post-viral infections, it has enhanced immunity, and reduced inflammatory-driven pathogenesis. Our article summarizes the literature on what is known about mindfulness meditation interventions, and reviews evidence on how it may apply to those with Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Evidence is reviewed suggesting effective and sustainable outcomes may be achieved for symptomatology and underlying pathology of post-viral fatigue (PASC and ME/CFS).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9653042/

Mindfulness Training Produces no Harm

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Mindfulness Training Produces no Harm

 

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

“the occurrence of AEs during or after meditation practices is not uncommon, and may occur in individuals with no previous history of mental health problems.” – M. Farias

 

People begin meditation with the misconception that meditation will help them escape from their problems. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, meditation does the exact opposite, forcing the meditator to confront their issues. In meditation, the practitioner tries to quiet the mind. But, in that relaxed quiet state, powerful, highly emotionally charged thoughts and memories are likely to emerge. The strength here is that meditation is a wonderful occasion to begin to deal with these issues. But often the thoughts or memories are overwhelming. At times, professional therapeutic intervention may be needed.

 

Many practitioners never experience these negative experiences or only experience very mild states. There are, however, few systematic studies of the extent of negative experiences. In general, the research has reported that unwanted (negative) experiences are quite common with meditators, but for the most part, are short-lived and mild. There is, however, a great need for more research into the nature of the experiences that occur during meditation.

 

In today’s Research News article “). Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction.” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7889774/ ) Hirshberg and colleagues compared patients who had received treatment with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program to those on a wait-list. MBSR was either delivered in community settings or was part of a formal randomized clinical trial and consisted of 8 weekly 2.5-hour sessions involving meditation, yoga, body scan, and group discussion with daily homework. They were measured before and after treatment for global psychological symptom severity and bothersome physical symptoms. They were also measured for anxiety, depression, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism.

 

They found that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) significantly improved psychological and physical symptoms and only a small number of patients experienced increases in symptoms at a much lower proportion than control participants. There was not a single comparison in which MBSR led to greater harm than occurred in controls.

 

Hence, no evidence was found that mindfulness training led to harm greater than with no treatment while there was clear evidence for mindfulness training producing significantly lower levels of psychological and physical symptoms.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was clearly a safe and effective treatment to improve mental and physical well-being,

 

 

“Meditation isn’t magic. Like any other treatment for stress or mood disorders, it comes with side effects.” – Simon Spichak

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on Twitter @MindfulResearch

 

Study Summary

 

Hirshberg, M. J., Goldberg, S. B., Rosenkranz, M., & Davidson, R. J. (2020). Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychological medicine, 1–9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720002834

 

Abstract

Background

Mindfulness meditation has become a common method for reducing stress, stress-related psychopathology and some physical symptoms. As mindfulness programs become ubiquitous, concerns have been raised about their unknown potential for harm. We estimate multiple indices of harm following Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on two primary outcomes: global psychological and physical symptoms. In secondary analyses we estimate multiple indices of harm on anxiety and depressive symptoms, discomfort in interpersonal relations, paranoid ideation and psychoticism.

Methods

Intent-to-treat analyses with multiple imputation for missing data were used on pre- and post-test data from a large, observational dataset (n = 2155) of community health clinic MBSR classes and from MBSR (n = 156) and waitlist control (n = 118) participants from three randomized controlled trials conducted contemporaneous to community classes in the same city by the same health clinic MBSR teachers. We estimate change in symptoms, proportion of participants with increased symptoms, proportion of participants reporting greater than a 35% increase in symptoms, and for global psychological symptoms, clinically significant harm.

Results

We find no evidence that MBSR leads to higher rates of harm relative to waitlist control on any primary or secondary outcome. On many indices of harm across multiple outcomes, community MBSR was significantly preventative of harm.

Conclusions

Engagement in MBSR is not predictive of increased rates of harm relative to no treatment. Rather, MBSR may be protective against multiple indices of harm. Research characterizing the relatively small proportion of MBSR participants that experience harm remains important.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7889774/

Improve the Psychological Well-Being of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease with Tai Chi

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Improve the Psychological Well-Being of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease with Tai Chi

 

By John M. de Castro, Ph.D.

 

“Tai Chi involves a series of graceful, gentle movements that can get your heart rate up while also relaxing your mind. It’s been called meditation in motion.” – Cleveland Heart Lab

 

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer. A myriad of treatments has been developed including a variety of surgical procedures and medications. In addition, lifestyle changes have proved to be effective including quitting smoking, weight reduction, improved diet, physical activity, and reducing stresses. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, 60% of cardiovascular disease patients decline engaging in these lifestyle changes, making these patients at high risk for another attack.

 

Contemplative practices have been shown to be safe and effective alternative treatments for cardiovascular disease. Practices such as meditation, tai chi, and yoga, have been shown to be helpful for heart health and to reduce the physiological and psychological responses to stress. They have also been shown to be effective in maintaining cardiovascular health and the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The research has been accumulating. So, it makes sense to pause and take a look at what has been learned.

 

In today’s Research News article “Does tai chi improve psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review.” (See summary below or view the full text of the study at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8725570/ ) Yang and colleagues review, summarize, and perform a meta-analysis of the published randomized controlled trials of the effectiveness of Tai Chi practice for patients with cardiovascular disease. They identified 37 published trials.

 

They report that the published research found that Tai Chi practiced improved the psychological well-being of the patients including decreases in perceived stress, anxiety, depression, bodily pain and increases in mental health, self-efficacy, and mood.

 

Hence practicing Tai Chi improves the mental health and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular disease.

 

“practicing tai chi may help to modestly lower blood pressure. It’s also proved helpful for people with heart failure, who tend to be tired and weak as a result of the heart’s diminished pumping ability. The slow movements involve both the upper and lower body, which safely strengthens the heart and major muscle groups without undue strain.” – Harvard Health

 

CMCS – Center for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies

 

This and other Contemplative Studies posts are also available on Twitter @MindfulResearch

 

Study Summary

 

Yang, G., Li, W., Klupp, N., Cao, H., Liu, J., Bensoussan, A., Kiat, H., Karamacoska, D., & Chang, D. (2022). Does tai chi improve psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review. BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 22(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03482-0

 

Abstract

Background

Psychological risk factors have been recognised as potential, modifiable risk factors in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Tai Chi, a mind-body exercise, has the potential to improve psychological well-being and quality of life. We aim to assess the effects and safety of Tai Chi on psychological well-being and quality of life in people with CVD and/or cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

We searched for randomised controlled trials evaluating Tai Chi for psychological well-being and quality of life in people with CVD and cardiovascular risk factors, from major English and Chinese databases until 30 July 2021. Two authors independently conducted study selection and data extraction. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Review Manager software was used for meta-analysis.

Results

We included 37 studies (38 reports) involving 3525 participants in this review. The methodological quality of the included studies was generally poor. Positive effects of Tai Chi on stress, self-efficacy, and mood were found in several individual studies. Meta-analyses demonstrated favourable effects of Tai Chi plus usual care in reducing anxiety (SMD − 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI): − 2.55, − 1.70, 3 studies, I2 = 60%) and depression (SMD -0.86, 95% CI: − 1.35, − 0.37, 6 studies, I2 = 88%), and improving mental health (MD 7.86, 95% CI: 5.20, 10.52, 11 studies, I2 = 71%) and bodily pain (MD 6.76, 95% CI: 4.13, 9.39, 11 studies, I2 = 75%) domains of the 36-Item Short Form Survey (scale from 0 to 100), compared with usual care alone. Tai Chi did not increase adverse events (RR 0.50, 95% CI: 0.21, 1.20, 5 RCTs, I2 = 0%), compared with control group. However, less than 30% of included studies reported safety information.

Conclusions

Tai Chi seems to be beneficial in the management of anxiety, depression, and quality of life, and safe to practice in people with CVD and/or cardiovascular risk factors. Monitoring and reporting of safety information are highly recommended for future research. More well-designed studies are warranted to determine the effects and safety of Tai Chi on psychological well-being and quality of life in this population.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8725570/