Abstract
We investigated the adherence of mental health professionals to a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme as
well as the impact of MBCT on mindful awareness and attention, psychological well-being and distress, state and trait anxiety,
worry and satisfaction with life. The design comprised of a prospective uncontrolled intervention study with pre- and post-measurements
of meditation adherence and measures of psychological well-being. Twenty-seven mental health professionals participated in
an 8-week MBCT programme for relapse prevention of depression, modified for healthy individuals. Their homework, mindful awareness
and attention (Mindful Awareness and Attention Scale), general psychological well-being (General Health Questionnaire), state
and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale), general psychopathology
(Brief Symptom Inventory) as well as worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire) were measured at week 1 and 8 during the intervention
and at week 20 as follow-up. Twenty four of 27 (88 %) mental health professionals completed the course and were included in
the analysis. Of these, 75 % (18 of 24) were female with a mean age of 36 years and a mean experience in cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT) of 6 years. Sixty-three per cent (15 of 24) reported continued practice at 20-week follow-up. A statistically
significant improvement of mindful awareness and psychological well-being, with significant reduction in worry, trait anxiety
and general psychopathology, was observed in participants who continued some form of meditation practice during the follow-up
period. The majority of mental health professionals adhered to the MBCT meditation practice, and the more they practised mindfulness
meditation, the more they experienced an increase in mindful awareness and attention, general psychological well-being and
a decrease in general psychopathology, trait anxiety and worry.
well as the impact of MBCT on mindful awareness and attention, psychological well-being and distress, state and trait anxiety,
worry and satisfaction with life. The design comprised of a prospective uncontrolled intervention study with pre- and post-measurements
of meditation adherence and measures of psychological well-being. Twenty-seven mental health professionals participated in
an 8-week MBCT programme for relapse prevention of depression, modified for healthy individuals. Their homework, mindful awareness
and attention (Mindful Awareness and Attention Scale), general psychological well-being (General Health Questionnaire), state
and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale), general psychopathology
(Brief Symptom Inventory) as well as worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire) were measured at week 1 and 8 during the intervention
and at week 20 as follow-up. Twenty four of 27 (88 %) mental health professionals completed the course and were included in
the analysis. Of these, 75 % (18 of 24) were female with a mean age of 36 years and a mean experience in cognitive behavioural
therapy (CBT) of 6 years. Sixty-three per cent (15 of 24) reported continued practice at 20-week follow-up. A statistically
significant improvement of mindful awareness and psychological well-being, with significant reduction in worry, trait anxiety
and general psychopathology, was observed in participants who continued some form of meditation practice during the follow-up
period. The majority of mental health professionals adhered to the MBCT meditation practice, and the more they practised mindfulness
meditation, the more they experienced an increase in mindful awareness and attention, general psychological well-being and
a decrease in general psychopathology, trait anxiety and worry.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category ORIGINAL PAPER
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s12671-012-0127-0
- Authors
- Florian A. Ruths, Maudsley Psychotherapy Department, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Nicole de Zoysa, Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College Hospital, 1st Floor, Cheyne Wing, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS UK
- Sonya J. Frearson, Barts Health NHS Trust, Diabetes Centre, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, London, E1 4DG UK
- Jane Hutton, Department of Psychological Medicine, King’s College Hospital, 1st Floor, Cheyne Wing, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS UK
- J. Mark G. Williams, Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK
- James Walsh, School of Psychology, University of East London, London, E15 4LZ UK
- Journal Mindfulness
- Online ISSN 1868-8535
- Print ISSN 1868-8527