The mindfulness trait and high perceived stress changes during treatment in patients with psychiatric disorders

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the mindfulness trait, its relations to perceived stress, and whether they change as a result of outpatient psychiatric non-mindfulness treatment among 21 patients with psychiatric disorders. Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS) and mindfulness trait (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ) questionnaires were administered to patients with psychiatric disorders on admission and following 6 weeks of treatment. The Clinical Global Impression Severity scale (CGI-S) was also assessed. Repeated measures were used to assess variables that related to changes in the PSS and FFMQ scores over time. On admission, the PSS score was inversely correlated with the FFMQ score, and it was higher among patients with current pain and a CGI-S score ≥ 5. The PSS score declined, and the “non-judge” domain of the five sub-scores of the FFMQ score increased after 6 weeks of treatment. An interaction between change in “non-judge” scores and the CGI-S score at baseline showed that scores improved among the severe (CGI-S ≥ 5) group only, achieving comparable scores after 6 weeks. Stress lowered following treatment but the mindfulness trait remained unchanged and probably needs specific intervention.