Mind-body Program Research Articles

First report of quality of life in adults with neurofibromatosis 2 who are deafened or have significant hearing loss: results of a live-video randomized control trial.

To test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a mind-body program for patients with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) who are deaf or have significant hearing loss (d3RP-NF2) against an attention placebo control (dHEP-NF2) in a single-blind randomized control trial. Both were delivered using Communication Access Real-Time Translation and live group videoconferencing. Forty-five adults with NF2 were randomized. Co-primary outcomes were physical quality of life (QoL) and psychological QoL and secondary outcomes were social QoL and environmental QoL, all measured with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment, and six-month follow-up. Forty-one participants (91%) completed the intervention, and 29 (64%) completed the six-month follow up. Participants in the d3RP-NF2 showed significantly greater improvements from baseline to post-treatment on physical QoL (14.79, 95% CI 5.41-24.18; p ≤ 0.001), psychological QoL (18.77, 95% CI 7.09-30.44, p ≤ 0.001), and environmental QoL (13.25, 95% CI 1.10-25.39, p = 0.03) compared to the dHEP-NF2. Social QoL also significantly increased in the d3RP-NF2 (16.32, 95% CI 6.66-25.97, p = 0.001), but improvement was not beyond the dHEP-NF2. Gains in QoL were clinically meaningful and maintained at the 6-month follow-up for d3RP-NF2 participants across all QoL domains. There were more treatment responders in the d3RP-NF2 compared to the dHEP-NF2. The d3RP-NF2 was well accepted, highly feasible, and resulted in sustained improvements in QoL in patients with NF2 who are deaf or have significant hearing loss.

THE MIND CRAFT PROJECT – HEALTHY MINDS, HEALTHY PILOTS: A LITERATURE REVIEW ON MINDFULNESS MEDITATION PROGRAMS FOR COMMERCIAL AIRLINES PILOTS

ABSTRACT Following the 2015 Germanwings crash, aviation agencies around the world have drawn up new policies relating to management and monitoring of the mental health of pilots. The Mind Craft Project is a literature review that provides an overview of current practices in mindfulness meditation programs in the aviation industry and propose new mind-body programs for pilots for implementation. Mental health is an important issue for the aviation industry as it directly impacts on the wellbeing of pilots. Moreover, a pilot’s mental health can directly affect the safety of passengers and needs to be treated as a public safety issue. This literature review has demonstrated that the implementation of a mindfulness training program could be a feasible and acceptable method for implementation in a commercial aviation environment to help ease stress, increase concentration and assist in mental health risk management. A few potential limitations to mindfulness interventions were uncovered such as the effectiveness of mindfulness for suicidal tendencies, and cultural behaviors in regards to mental health issues in the aviation industry. However, further research needed as there has been little research conducted on mind-body programs for commercial airline pilots. Recommendations were provided for a follow-up long term study.

Mind-Body Treatment for International English-Speaking Adults With Neurofibromatosis via Live Videoconferencing: Protocol for a Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundNeurofibromatoses (NF) are rare genetic conditions associated with substantial psychosocial burden and impaired quality of life (QoL). We developed the first NF-tailored mind-body program (the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF) and adapted it for delivery via live videoconferencing to decrease participation barriers and increase its reach. In a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT), we found that the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF had excellent feasibility and acceptability when delivered via live videoconferencing; furthermore, the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF showed proof of concept in improving QoL compared with an NF-tailored health education control program (the Health Enhancement Program for NF). A fully powered trial is needed to ascertain the efficacy and durability of the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF delivered via secure live videoconferencing among geographically diverse patients.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF versus the Health Enhancement Program for NF, both delivered in groups via secure live videoconferencing, among geographically diverse patients with NF across the United States and internationally. Here we describe the protocol, manualized treatments, evaluation plan, and study design.MethodsThis is a single-blind RCT. Patients are told that they will be randomized to one of the two stress management programs (stress management program 1: the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF and stress management program 2: the Health Enhancement Program for NF). Patients are recruited from NF-specific national and international foundations and NF clinics across the United States through study ads and a video of participants who have completed the program as part of the pilot study or ongoing trial. Interested participants are screened for eligibility via secure live videoconferencing (self-reported stress and difficulties coping, no change in antidepressant medication within the past 3 months, no psychotherapy within the past 3 months, no major upcoming surgeries within the next 12 months, English speaking, and able to complete questionnaires online and participate in live video interventions) and consent obtained before participation. Both programs are manualized comprising 8 sessions delivered via secure live videoconferencing by trained clinical psychologists. Primary outcomes are physical health QoL and psychological health QoL. Secondary outcomes are social relationship QoL, environment QoL, and psychosocial and resiliency variables. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, posttraining, and 6- and 12-month follow-ups.ResultsThe trial is ongoing. Thus far, we have recruited 55 patients and aim to recruit a total of 224. Recruitment will close in May 2020; we plan to complete data analyses by June 2021.ConclusionsThis trial will answer key questions about the efficacy and durability of the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF via live videoconferencing with English-speaking adults with NF worldwide. If found efficacious, this program can be readily implemented through national and international NF foundations and NF-specific clinics. The virtual model of delivery has extensive applications for patients in rural areas, those with disability or illness that precludes travel to clinics, and those with rare diseases.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03406208; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03406208 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/72ZoTDQ6h)International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/11008

Is less more? A randomized comparison of home practice time in a mind-body program

Home practice is a major component of mind-body programs, yet little is known about how to optimize the amount of prescribed home practice in order to achieve an effective “dose” of practice while minimizing participant burden. This study tested how varying the amount of home practice in a mind-body program impacts compliance and stress reduction, and whether prescribing a flexible home practice schedule increases compliance. Eighty-four stressed participants undergoing a 12-week yoga program were randomized to low, medium, and high home practice conditions. The medium condition allowed participants the flexibility to choose one of two amounts of practice each day. The low practice group exhibited the highest compliance (91%) compared to the medium and low practice groups (∼60%), but exhibited the lowest total practice time, and did not significantly reduce stress. The high practice group was the only group to achieve significant stress-reduction, which was maintained 12 weeks post program. Prescribing a flexible home practice schedule did not increase compliance. Results suggest that prescribing higher practice doses may maximize practice time and symptom reduction despite lower compliance.

Military and Veteran Caregivers’ Perspectives of Stressors and a Mind-Body Program

There are over one million post-9/11 military caregivers in the United States who face a variety of stressors inherent to caring for an incapacitated loved one. Mind-body interventions, such as the Stress Management and Resilience Training Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (SMART-3RP), have been shown to reduce stress and improve overall health and functioning. The present qualitative study aims to explore stressors experienced by military caregivers in their caregiving role and to assess attitudes towards the virtual delivery of the SMART-3RP. We conducted two focus groups with a total of 13 caregivers [M (SD) age = 41.25 (11.49); 92% female], and participants subsequently completed a survey on their caregiving experiences. Focus groups were conducted remotely via Google Hangouts by two doctoral-level clinicians, transcribed verbatim, and coded using inductive thematic analysis. Themes related to stressors of caregiving included: logistical stressors faced by caregivers, demands of the caregiving role, concerns about children, worries about the future, exacerbation of the caregiver’s physical/mental health concerns, social dynamics, sacrifices made for their veteran in the caregiving role, and relationship dynamics between the veteran and caregiver. Military caregivers found the SMART-3RP logical and felt as though it could be helpful to them. Caregivers expressed interest in a brief, virtual version of the SMART-3RP. Using the findings from the current study, we are adapting the SMART-3RP to be administered virtually as a podcast-based intervention.

Examination of an Integrative Health Care Model for Social Work Practice.

Social work professionals would benefit by including integrative medicine programs and practices in their framework of practice and service delivery to clients. In our rapidly changing health care environment, using a model that provides a more comprehensive and empowering approach to addressing the medical and psychological needs of our clients is warranted. Discussion of holistic social work practice and implications for social work education and training will be examined through a review of the research and clinical application of a mind-body program titled the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP). This client-centered, strengths-based program can be used in conjunction with traditional therapies to empower clients to take part in their own health care by teaching noninvasive, self-care, and user-friendly techniques. New research from the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine has demonstrated a reduction in service utilization and cost savings from participation in 3RP. Research on this resiliency health care model will be of interest to social work practitioners, educators, and policymakers alike.

Postural awareness and its relation to pain: validation of an innovative instrument measuring awareness of body posture in patients with chronic pain

BackgroundHabitual postural patterns are associated with musculoskeletal pain, and improving a maladaptive posture requires postural awareness in order to lead to clinical improvements. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the psychometric properties of an innovative postural awareness scale.MethodsA 12-item Postural Awareness Scale (PAS) was developed and administered to 512 chronic pain patients (50.3 ± 11.4 years, 91.6% female, 37.1% spinal/shoulder pain) to assess its factor structure and reliability. To determine convergent validity, measures of body awareness, body responsiveness, body image, and mindfulness were correlated with the PAS, as were clinical measures of pain intensity, disability, and mental health. Sensitivity to change was assessed in 202 outpatients participating in a 10-week multimodal mind-body program.ResultsFactor analysis revealed two factors (Ease/Familiarity with Postural Awareness and Need for Attention Regulation with Postural Awareness) that explained 50.8% of the variance. Cronbach’s alpha for the complete scale was 0.80; Spearman-Brown coefficient of split-half reliability was 0.67; and intra-class correlation was ICC2,1 = 0.75 (95% confidence interval = 0.71, 0.78). Significant positive correlations were found for body awareness (r = 0.23), body responsiveness (r = 0.41), body image (r = 0.22–0.32), and mindfulness (r = 0.38); negative correlations for pain intensity (r = − 0.14), disability (r = − 0.12), depression (r = − 0.23), and stress (r = − 0.29). Postural awareness scores increased with a mind-body program (p < 0.001); changes in the PAS were negatively correlated with changes in pain intensity (r = − 0.35) in patients with spinal/shoulder pain.ConclusionSelf-reported postural awareness is associated with clinical symptoms in chronic pain patients; improvements in postural awareness are longitudinally associated with reduced pain in patients with spinal/shoulder pain.

Challenges associated with parenting youth with neurofibromatosis: A qualitative investigation.

Parents of children with the neurofibromatoses (NF; neurofibromatosis 1, neurofibromatosis 2, and schwannomatosis) are at an increased risk for emotional and physical health problems. This study aimed to determine parents' perceptions of stressors associated with parenting a child with NF in order to inform the development of a resiliency intervention. We conducted three live video semi structured focus groups with parents of youth with NF (N = 30), which were subsequently transcribed and coded using qualitative content analysis. Parents reported heightened stress associated with the child's educational, medical, and social needs, as well as concerns about their child's physical and mental health. They also reported stress associated with managing finances, multiple medical appointments, role challenges (i.e., being a parent or partner), and managing the uncertainty/unpredictability of their child's NF diagnosis. These stressors reportedly affected employment status (i.e., work scale backs), relationships (i.e., social, familial, with partner, other children), and the parents' physical and mental health. All participants expressed interest in a mind body program aimed at improving resiliency by teaching coping skills (e.g., mindfulness, adaptive thinking, positive psychology skills) and enhancing social support. Results show parents' enthusiasm for a resiliency intervention targeting stress associated with parenting a child with NF, and provide valuable information for the content of the intervention and its delivery modality.

Being aware of the painful body: Validation of the German Body Awareness Questionnaire and Body Responsiveness Questionnaire in patients with chronic pain.

Body awareness is an attentional focus on and awareness of internal body sensations. This study aimed to validate German versions of the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) and the Body Responsiveness Questionnaire (BRQ) in chronic pain patients and to assess their associations with pain-related variables and to assess their responsiveness to intervention. The instruments were translated to German and administered to 512 chronic pain patients (50.3±11.4 years, 91.6% female) to assess their factor structure and reliability. Cronbach’s α for the BAQ total score was 0.86. Factor analysis of the BRQ revealed the two factors Importance of Interoceptive Awareness (Cronbach’s α = 0.75) and Perceived Connection (Cronbach’s α = 0.75) and the single-item Suppression of Bodily Sensations. The BAQ was independently associated with lower mindfulness, self-esteem, stress, and depression; Importance of Interoceptive Awareness with mindfulness, self-acceptance, self-esteem, and physical contact; Perceived Connection with self-acceptance, vitality, and lower sensory pain; Suppression of Bodily Sensations with lower self-esteem, physical contact, and higher depressive symptoms. After a 10-week multimodal mind-body program (n = 202), the BAQ and Importance of Interoceptive Awareness increased and pain intensity and Suppression of Bodily Sensation decreased. In conclusion, body awareness and body responsiveness are associated with pain-related variables in patients with chronic pain. Mind-body interventions may positively influence both pain and body awareness, hinting at a potential mechanism of action of these interventions to be tested in further research.

Physiological and psychological responses to different yoga styles

Context: Yoga is a popular mind-body program designed to improve muscular endurance, core stability, flexibility, and balance. Some styles of yoga appear to provide mild cardiovascular stimulus which may enhance cardiovascular endurance when performed regularly. Few studies have compared training intensity of different yoga styles. Aims: The aim of this study is to examine training intensity, caloric expenditure, and acute psychological response to three different styles of yoga (i.e., Dynamic, Hatha, and Gentle Yoga). Settings and Design: This was a quasi-experimental, within-group repeated measures design. Subjects and Methods: Eight young females (M = 19.24, standard deviation = 1.82) performed three yoga styles on separate occasions. Each participant wore chest-mounted heart rate (HR) monitor to record physiological data (i.e., average HR, maximum HR, calorie expenditure, training duration, and percentage of time within the 5 Polar-defined training zones). Participants filled out the Exercise-induced Feeling Inventory before and after each session. Statistical Analysis Used: Analysis was done using nonparametric statistical tests. Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant differences in the average HR, calorie expenditure per minute, and time spent in Zone 2 (moderate intensity) between yoga styles. Follow-up analyses indicated that these physiological variables were higher in Dynamic Yoga compared to Hatha and Gentle. For psychological response, higher change in tranquility score was observed in Gentle Yoga compared to Hatha and Dynamic. Conclusions: This study concludes that different yoga styles elicit different training intensities and psychological response and extends current knowledge suggesting that health and fitness benefits of yoga may differ by style.

The impact of a mind-body program on multiple dimensions of resiliency among geographically diverse patients with neurofibromatosis.

The neurofibromatoses (NF) are incurable genetic disorders that can cause nerve sheath tumors, chronic pain, and disfiguration. Patients with NF report lower quality of life and greater distress, and may benefit from programs that promote resiliency. To test effects of an 8-week mind-body program (Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for NF [3RP-NF]) on resiliency, using data derived from a larger randomized controlled trial of the 3RP-NF versus attention placebo control (Vranceanu et al. in Neurology 87:806-814, 2016). Participants (N = 63; 46 female; 52 White) were randomized to 3RP-NF (n = 32, M age = 42.86) or control (n = 31, M age = 39.90), completed intervention sessions via group videoconferencing, and provided self-report measures of resiliency (i.e., perceived coping abilities, perceived social support, gratitude, optimism, spiritual well-being, mindfulness) at baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up. All participants attended at least 6/8 sessions and 83% (N = 52) provided 6-month follow-up data. The 3RP-NF (vs. control) produced greater improvements from pre- to post-intervention in perceived coping abilities (M difference = 6.68; p = .008), perceived social support (M difference = 9.16; p = .032), and mindfulness (M difference = 2.23; p = .035), which were maintained at 6-month follow up. We did not observe group differences in spiritual well-being, optimism, or gratitude. The 3RP-NF produced sustained increases in multiple dimensions of resiliency (perceived coping abilities, perceived social support, and mindfulness). Promoting resiliency may be particularly important for a population that is underserved and living with a chronic, incurable illness.

Change in Sense of Nondual Awareness and Spiritual Awakening in Response to a Multidimensional Well-Being Program.

This study examined the effects of a comprehensive mind-body program on sense of nondual awareness and spiritual awakening. The study compared the effects of participation in an intensive 6-day Ayurveda-based mind-body program that addressed physical, emotional, and spiritual domains as compared with a control condition. Resort setting. Participants were 69 healthy women and men (mean age 53.9 years; range 32-86). The primary outcome was the Nondual Embodiment Thematic Inventory (NETI). A significant group by time interaction (p = 0.029) indicated that after the intervention, participants in the mind-body program showed a significant increase in NETI scores (p < 0.03), which was sustained 1 month later (p < 0.01). Findings suggest that an intensive program providing holistic instruction and experience in mind-body practices can lead to a significant and sustained shift in perception of self-awareness, one that is likely favorable to well-being.

Patient and Provider Perspectives on a Mind-Body Program for Grieving Older Adults.

Spousal bereavement in older age is a major stressor associated with an increase in both mental and physical problems. The Stress Management and Resiliency Training: Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (SMART-3RP) is an 8-week multimodal mind-body program that targets stress and has been found efficacious in decreasing the mental and physical manifestations of stress in varied populations. This qualitative study sought to investigate the relevance, credibility, and feasibility of the SMART-3RP in the community. Focus groups were conducted among both older widowed adults and providers who support them in the community (eg, chaplains, hospice bereavement coordinators). Transcripts were coded independently by coders trained in qualitative research. Codebooks were created based on both general themes and detailed subthemes present in the transcripts. Findings from 4 focus groups revealed a general convergence between the needs of recently widowed older adults reported by widow(er)s and community providers alike and needs identified in the literature. Several components of the SMART-3RP target many of these needs (eg, social support, stress awareness, coping skills), making both community providers and widow(er)s report that the SMART-3RP is logical (89%) and would be helpful (100%) and successful in reducing symptoms (78%). Additionally, all widow(er)s reported a willingness to participate (100%). Feedback from the focus groups was used to adapt the SMART-3RP to improve its relevance to grief-related stress. Our findings suggest that the SMART-3RP may be helpful in decreasing somatic and psychological distress in older adults who have lost a spouse.

Investigating Clinical Benefits of a Novel Sleep-Focused Mind-Body Program on Gulf War Illness Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mind-Body Bridging (MBB) has been shown to be effective for improving disturbed sleep. In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the efficacy of sleep-focused MBB compared with sleep education control (SED) for improving sleep in previously deployed Gulf War veterans. US military service members with sleep and physical health complaints who were deployed in 1990-1991 were randomized to receive three weekly sessions of either MBB (n = 33) or SED (n = 27) between 2012 and 2015. The primary outcome of Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale was completed at baseline, weekly during treatment, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures for posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, fatigue, quality of life, symptom severity, and mindfulness were completed at baseline, postintervention and 3-month follow-up. Salivary samples were collected at five time points per day at each visit for cortisol and α-amylase assessment. Clinician-administered assessments of sleep and co-occurring conditions were conducted at baseline and postintervention. MBB was significantly more efficacious than SED in reducing disturbed sleep at follow-up (F(1,180.54) = 4.04, p = .046). In addition, self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (F(1,56.42) = 4.50, p = .038) for the treatment effect, depression (F(1,93.70) = 4.44, p = .038), and fatigue symptoms (F(1,68.58) = 3.90, p = .050) at follow-up improved in MBB compared with those in SED. Consistently higher percentages of veterans in MBB reported improvements of sleep, pain, and composite sleep/general co-occurring symptoms at the postclinical evaluation, as compared with veterans in SED. Finally, the mean waking level of salivary α-amylase in the MBB declined to a greater extent than that in the SED, at follow-up (F(1,88.99) = 3.78, p = .055), whereas no effects were found on cortisol. Sleep-focused MBB can improve sleep and possibly also co-occurring symptoms in Gulf War veterans. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01543997.

Evidence and Feasibility of Implementing an Integrated Wellness Program in Northeast Georgia.

Evidence for the connection between physical and mental health is growing, as is interest in providing a holistic, mind-body approach to improving mental health and wellness. A needs assessment in northeast Georgia identified several regional health priorities, including mental health and substance abuse, access to care, and cardiovascular health. The study's purpose is threefold: to (1) review evidence for integrated mind-body wellness services, (2) explore the feasibility of implementing wellness services in a small mental health agency serving northeast Georgia, and (3) conduct a brief survey assessing interest in a wellness program. The literature search identified articles within the past 10 years with these key words: "yoga," "mental health," "wellness program," "complementary alternative medicine," "tai chi," "mindfulness," "meditation," and "nutrition." The survey was distributed to the agency's affiliates. The literature review identified strong evidence for an integrated mind-body wellness program that includes yoga, tai chi, mindfulness meditation, and nutrition education. Among 73 survey respondents, 86 percent indicated interest in wellness services, and 85 percent agreed that wellness services are important to mental health and well-being. Authors suggest a model to incorporate a holistic wellness program to complement mental health services and help facilitate physical and mental health.

Secular Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Efficacy and Neurobiology.

Secular Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Efficacy and Neurobiology.

Mind-body therapy via videoconferencing in patients with neurofibromatosis: An RCT.

To test, within a single-blind randomized controlled trial, the feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and durability of a mind-body program (the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program for neurofibromatosis [3RP-NF]) vs an attention placebo control (Health Enhancement Program for NF [HEP-NF]), both delivered via group videoconferencing. Sixty-three patients completed baseline assessments and were randomized. Primary outcomes were physical health and psychological quality of life (QoL), measured by the WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization QoL abbreviated instrument). Secondary outcomes were social relations and environment QoL, depression, anxiety, pain intensity, and pain interference. Sixty-three participants completed the intervention (100%) and 52 the 6-month follow-up (82.5%). Acceptability was 4.1 (5-point scale). Patients in the 3RP-NF showed greater improvement in physical health QoL (7.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-15.10; p = 0.040), psychological QoL (5.57; 95% CI: 0.17-11.34; p = 0.056), social relations QoL (10.95; 95% CI: 1.57-20.31; p = 0.021), environment QoL (8.02; 95% CI: 2.57-13.48; p = 0.005), and anxiety (-2.32; 95% CI: -3.96 to 0.69; p = 0.006) compared to those in HEP-NF, and gains were maintained at follow-up. Patients in the 3RP-NF did not improve more than those in HEP-NF on depression, with both groups showing improvement. Patients in the 3RP-NF with baseline pain ≥5 of 10 showed improvement in pain intensity from baseline to posttest (1.30; 95% CI: -2.26 to -0.34; p = 0.009) with effects maintained at follow-up; this improvement was not greater than that in HEP-NF. There were more treatment responders in the 3RP-NF group (p < 0.05). The 3RP-NF delivered via videoconferencing was highly feasible and accepted by patients, and resulted in sustained improvement in QoL. This study provides Class II evidence that for patients with NF, a mind-body program is superior to an attention placebo control in improving QoL.

The Self-Directed Biological Transformation Initiative and Well-Being.

To examine the effects of a comprehensive residential mind-body program on well-being. The Self-Directed Biological Transformation Initiative was a quasi-randomized trial comparing the effects of participation in a 6-day Ayurvedic system of medicine-based comprehensive residential program with a 6-day residential vacation at the same retreat location. Retreat setting. 69 healthy women (n = 58) and men (n = 11) (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.6 ± 12 years). The Ayurvedic intervention addressed physical and emotional well-being through group meditation and yoga, massage, diet, adaptogenic herbs, lectures, and journaling. A battery of standardized questionnaires. Participants in the Ayurvedic program showed significant and sustained increases in ratings of spirituality (p < 0.01) and gratitude (p < 0.05) compared with the vacation group, which showed no change. The Ayurvedic participants also showed increased ratings for self-compassion (p < 0.01) as well as less anxiety at the 1-month follow-up (p < 0.05). Findings suggest that a short-term intensive program providing holistic instruction and experience in mind-body healing practices can lead to significant and sustained increases in perceived well-being and that relaxation alone is not enough to improve certain aspects of well-being.

Mental and physical health outcomes following the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP) in a clinical practice setting

IntroductionThe Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP) is a novel mind-body program aimed at reducing stress-related symptoms. There is growing evidence that this treatment reduces mental and physical health symptoms, however, no research has evaluated whether the 3RP is equally effective in reducing symptoms in patients with co-occurring versus individual mental-physical health concerns. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the 3RP for reducing mental and physical health symptoms among patients with versus without co-occurring mental-physical health concerns. MethodsParticipants (N=222 physician referred patients) completed the 3RP in an academic medical setting. Participants were categorized based on their primary self-reported health concern(s): mental problems alone (N=42), physical problems alone (N=118), or comorbid mental-physical problems (N=62). The Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) was used to assess mental health symptoms and the Medical Symptoms Check List (MSCL) was used to assess physical health symptoms. ResultsPre-post paired sample t-tests were conducted to assess changes in mental and physical health symptoms. Patients in all three groups reported moderate to large improvements on most SCL-90-R subscales including anxiety, depression and somatization symptoms (Cohen’s d range=0.26-0.87). Significant reductions in the frequency of symptoms on the MSCL were also observed (Cohen’s d range=0.21-0.94). ConclusionsThe 3RP is an effective treatment for improving both mental and physical health symptoms. Results also suggest that patients with comorbid mental-physical health symptoms respond equally well to the 3RP as those presenting with either physical or mental health concerns alone.

Mind–Body Skills Training to Improve Distress Tolerance in Medical Students: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACTProblem: Medical students face rigorous and stressful work environments, resulting in high rates of psychological distress. However, there has been a dearth of empirical work aimed at modifying risk factors for psychopathology among this at-risk group. Distress tolerance, defined as the ability to withstand emotional distress, is one factor that may be important in promoting psychological well-being in medical students. Thus, the aim of the current mixed-methods study was (a) to describe changes in facets of distress tolerance (i.e., emotional tolerance, absorption, appraisal, regulation) for medical students who completed a mind–body skills training group, and a no-intervention control group of students; (b) to examine the relationship between changes in psychological variables and changes in distress tolerance; and (c) to report students' perceptions of the mind–body group, with an emphasis on how the group may have affected personal and professional functioning due to improvements in distress tolerance. Intervention: The mind–body program was an 11-week, 2-hour skills training group that focused on introducing, practicing, and processing mind–body skills such as biofeedback, guided imagery, relaxation, several forms of meditation (e.g., mindfulness), breathing exercises, and autogenic training. Context: Participants were 52 first- and second-year medical students (62.7% female, Mage = 23.45, SD = 1.51) who participated in a mind–body group or a no-intervention control group and completed self-report measures before and after the 11-week period. Outcome: Students in the mind–body group showed a modest improvement in all distress tolerance subscales over time (ΔM = .42–.53, p = .01–.03, d = .44–.53), whereas the control group showed less consistent changes across most subscales (ΔM = .11–.42, p = .10–.65, d = .01–.42). Students in the mind–body group qualitatively reported an improved ability to tolerate affective distress. Overall, improvements in psychological symptoms were associated with improvements in distress tolerance in the mind–body group but not in the control group. Lessons Learned: These preliminary findings provide support for the notion that improving distress tolerance through mind–body skills training might serve to protect medical students from becoming functionally impaired by psychological distress. Thus, implementing mind–body skills training into medical school education may help to improve the psychological well-being of medical students. Future studies utilizing more methodologically rigorous designs are warranted.