Mindfulness-based Training Research Articles

26 Improvement in Executive Function Following Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation Training in Veterans with mTBI

Objective:Goal-Oriented Attentional Self-Regulation (GOALS) is a cognitive rehabilitation training that targets difficulties with executive control functions. Prior research has found that GOALS training improves executive function, functional outcomes, and PTSD symptoms in Veterans with comorbid PTSD and TBI. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of GOALS training versus an active time-matched Behavioral Health Education (BHE) intervention in military Veterans with history of mTBI and executive function difficulties.Participants and Methods:Thirty-four veterans with a history of mild TBI (>6 months post-injury) and cognitive difficulties were randomized to GOALS or BHE group intervention. GOALS is a cognitive rehabilitation intervention that incorporates mindfulness-based attention regulation training, and goal management strategies applied to participant-defined goals. It consists of ten 2-hour sessions administered in small group format, and three individual 1-hour sessions. The BHE group is a matched control condition that mirrors GOALS in terms of duration and level of involvement. Participants completed a comprehensive evaluation consisting of neuropsychological and ecologically valid functional performance measures of complex attention and executive function, before and after GOALS or BHE intervention. Overall neuropsychological attention/executive functioning included measures of working memory (Letter Number Sequencing, Auditory Consonant Trigrams), mental flexibility (Design & Verbal Fluency Switching, Trails B, Stroop Inhibition/Switching), inhibition (Stroop Inhibition), and sustained attention (Digit Vigilance). The Goal Processing Scale (GPS) was used to measure ecologically valid complex functional performance.Results:Post GOALS training, but not post BHE, participants significantly improved on measures of attention /executive function including overall performance (p=.02), working memory (p=.04), sustained attention (p=.03)., and inhibition (p=.01). On measures of complex functional task performance, post GOALS participants significantly improved in the domain of planning (p=.02).Conclusions:GOALS training improved performance on neuropsychological and ecologically valid functional measures of complex attention and executive function in Veterans with mild TBI and cognitive difficulties. The current study highlights how mindfulness-based attention regulation and goalmanagement strategies applied to personal goals has positive effects across various outcomes. A percentage of individuals with mTBI continue to report persistent problems with cognition and daily functioning. Cognitive rehabilitation training such as GOALS may be beneficial for those with persistent difficulties following mTBI, even in chronic phase.

CE Workshop 01: Mindfulness Meditation Induced Analgesia Engages Multiple Unique Brain Mechanisms

Abstract & Learning Objectives:For millenniums, mindfulness was believed to diminish pain by reducing the influence of self-appraisals of noxious sensations. Today, mindfulness meditation is a highly popular and effective pain therapy that is believed to engage multiple, nonplacebo-related mechanisms to attenuate pain. Recent evidence suggests that mindfulness meditation-induced pain relief is associated with the engagement of unique cortico-thalamo-cortical nociceptive filtering mechanisms. The proposed talk will provide a succinct, yet comprehensive delineation demonstrating that brief mindfulness-based mental training significantly reduces acutely evoked chronic low back pain through non-opioidergic mechanisms. Recent findings indicate that mindfulness-based pain relief, after brief mental training, can significantly uncouple self-referential from nociceptive neural mechanisms, an important finding for the millions of individuals seeking a fast-acting and non-pharmacologic pain treatment. Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to: 1.Recognize if mindfulness reduces pain2.Describe brain mechanisms supporting mindfulness-based pain relief3.List the physiological systems supporting mindfulness

The Relationship among School Mindfulness, Classroom Anxiety, and High School Student Life Satisfaction

Purpose. The study aims to improve student life throughout the school years by exploring the use of mindfulness-based instruction to reduce classroom anxiety. Many school systems in Asia do not use mindful based instruction at primary, secondary and high school education. Emphasis on academic achievement as measured in terms of grade scoring and competitive exam results is high, and leads to significant stress on students. It is believed that mindfulness coaching could help reduce overall stress levels in high school students. Methodology. The study is a correlational design in which convenience sampling was used. It aims to measure school mindfulness by Hoy (2004), classroom anxiety by Richmond (2001), and high school student life satisfaction by Heubener (1991) for a sample of 80 high school students drawn from the private school system of Pakistan. Results. The study reported moderate to weak positive correlations between the three constructs. It was found that there was a significant link between school mindfulness, student life satisfaction, and classroom anxiety. The study reported that age and gender have no significant impact on school mindfulness, student life satisfaction and classroom anxiety. Conclusions. The study indicates the development of mindfulness-based training at the school level to improve student life satisfaction. The study indicates the possibility of Western mindfulness instruction courses being implemented in the Eastern traditional school system. School mindfulness can help students to meaningfully grow in their academic careers. It further can enhance their coping and stress handling techniques as they proceed into higher education. The study will pave way for the implementation of school mindfulness programs and workshops to be delivered by mindfulness certified instructors and counselors, which is at present a rarity in traditional academic system.

Evaluation of the Effect of Mindfulness-Based Training on the Quality of Work-Life and Motivations of Nurses Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aims to determine the effect of mindfulness stress training given to nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic period on the quality of work-life and motivation of nurses. The research was carried out as a pre-test and post-test control group quasi-experimental model from nurses working in a university hospital in eastern Turkey between September 2021 and December 2021. The study population consisted of 850 nurses working in the hospital. The sample consisted of 42 nurses (21 experimental, 21 control group) who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria. In the study, selection bias was controlled by randomized assignment and concealing randomization. The nurses' names were grouped alphabetically and randomized using the research randomizer program. Within the scope of the research, the mindfulness Stress Training Program was applied to the nurses in the experimental group. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Nurse WorkLife Quality Scale, and Nurse Work Motivation Scale. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon marking tests were used to analyze the data. It was determined that the total score of the work motivation scale of the nurses in the experimental group was 48.42 ± 5.39 before the training, 59.52 ± 6.52 after the training, and the total score of the nurse work-life quality scale was 81.00 ± 12.46 before the intervention and 91.08 ± 11.06 after the intervention. The post-test scores of the control and experimental groups were statistically significant (P < .05). It was found that the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program was effective in nurses' work motivation and quality of work-life during the pandemic period.

Does mindfulness-based wellbeing training increase self-reported and perceived health among teachers?

Abstract Background Teachers are reporting increased stress, burnout, and workload at schools. Previous studies have shown that mindfulness-based (MF-based) programs are potential interventions to decrease stress and improve wellbeing among teachers. The aim of this Healthy Learning Mind -teacher study was to investigate the effects of a MF-based wellbeing training on several dimensions of wellbeing among teachers in Finnish comprehensive schools. Methods We developed a MF-based wellbeing training tailored for teachers (8 weeks) and organized the training by three teaching methods: 1) contact teaching; 2) online teaching and 3) combination of both contact and online teaching. Outcome variables are: wellbeing (The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale), work ability (Work Ability Index) and perceived stress (Single Item Measure of Stress). A total of 50 teachers answered to both baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Additionally perceived health benefits were reported. Results MF-based wellbeing training showed beneficial effects on teachers’ perceived health: better ability to calm down, relax, regulate emotions and to manage difficult situations as well as better tools for stress management in classrooms. Additionally teachers reported that their own mindfulness practice had a beneficial effect on students’ calmness, attention and kindness as well as on interaction with students. Analysed results on outcome variables will be presented at the conference. Conclusions First results suggest that MF-based wellbeing training has several perceived health benefits among teachers in strengthening teachers’ ability to regulate emotions and decrease stress and to adopt tools for solving challenging situations with students. Furthermore, teachers reported that their own mindfulness practice had a favorable effect on students’ wellbeing and social-emotional competence. Enhancing teachers’ wellbeing is beneficial for both teachers themselves and for students. Key messages • MF-based wellbeing training can be seen as a potential intervention to decrease perceived stress and increase perceived health benefits among teachers and to support teachers in their profession. • More research is needed to understand how teachers’ own mindfulness practice affects wellbeing among students and interaction in classrooms.

The Effectiveness of a Neurofeedback-Assisted Mindfulness Training Program Using a Mobile App on Stress Reduction in Employees: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mindfulness-based training programs have consistently shown efficacy in stress reduction. However, questions regarding the optimal duration and most effective delivery methods remain. This research explores a 4-week neurofeedback-assisted mindfulness training for employees via a mobile app. The study's core query is whether incorporating neurofeedback can amplify the benefits on stress reduction and related metrics compared with conventional mindfulness training. A total of 92 full-time employees were randomized into 3 groups: group 1 received mobile mindfulness training with neurofeedback assistance (n=29, mean age 39.72 years); group 2 received mobile mindfulness training without neurofeedback (n=32, mean age 37.66 years); and group 3 were given self-learning paper materials on stress management during their first visit (n=31, mean age 38.65 years). The primary outcomes were perceived stress and resilience scales. The secondary outcomes were mindfulness awareness, emotional labor, occupational stress, insomnia, and depression. Heart rate variability and electroencephalography were measured for physiological outcomes. These measurements were collected at 3 different times, namely, at baseline, immediately after training, and at a 4-week follow-up. The generalized estimating equation model was used for data analysis. The 4-week program showed significant stress reduction (Wald χ22=107.167, P<.001) and improvements in psychological indices including resilience, emotional labor, insomnia, and depression. A significant interaction was observed in resilience (time × group, Wald χ42=10.846, P=.02). The post hoc analysis showed a statistically significant difference between groups 1 (least squares mean [LSM] 21.62, SE 0.55) and 3 (LSM 19.90, SE 0.61) at the posttraining assessment (P=.008). Group 1 showed a significant improvement (P<.001) at the posttraining assessment, with continued improvements through the 1-month follow-up assessment period (LSM 21.55, SE 0.61). Physiological indices were analyzed only for data of 67 participants (22 in group 1, 22 in group 2, and 23 in group 3) due to the data quality. The relaxation index (ratio of alpha to high beta power) from the right electroencephalography channel showed a significant interaction (time × group, Wald χ22=6.947, P=.03), with group 1 revealing the highest improvement (LSM 0.43, SE 0.15) compared with groups 2 (LSM -0.11, SE 0.10) and 3 (LSM 0.12, SE 0.10) at the 1-month follow-up assessment. The study demonstrated that the neurofeedback-assisted group achieved superior outcomes in resilience and relaxation during the 4-week mobile mindfulness program. Further research with larger samples and long-term follow-up is warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03787407; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03787407.

Effectiveness of psychological skills training for police personnel: a meta-analysis

There has been an increasing interest in primary prevention programmes developed to improve police officers’ mental health. This meta-analysis synthesised the existing findings on psychological skills training for police personnel...

Promising Subjective and Objective Benefits of Modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training for Chinese Adults with Chronic Pain: A Pilot Randomized Control Study.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing pain-related stress in adults with chronic pain. However, the implementation of MBSR needs modifications across cultures. This pilot study reports the findings of a randomized controlled trial that investigated the effects of a culturally adaptive MBSR program on self-report and neuroimaging outcomes for chronic pain adults in China. Sixty-seven participants were randomly assigned to the treatment group (n = 40) or the treatment-as-usual group (n = 27) group at a ratio of 1.5:1. Participants completed self-report measures of pain severity, pain interference, depression, perceived stress, pain catastrophizing, mindfulness, and resilience at baseline assessment (T1), post-treatment (T2), and 3-month follow-up (T3) assessments. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was also performed at T1 and T3 assessments. For the intention-to-treat sample, the results of the mixed-effect model indicated that Group × Time interaction was significant for pain catastrophizing only (F (2, 130) = 3.51, p = 0.033). Compared with the control group, those in the MBSR group reported greater reductions in pain catastrophizing at T2 (d = - 0.60), though this effect was not maintained at T3 (d = - 0.05). Additionally, the results of completer analyses found significant Group × Time interactions for pain interference (F (2, 88) = 4.40, p = 0.015) and perceived stress (F (2, 88) = 3.13, p = 0.048), but not for other measures. Finally, both groups exhibited decreased regional homogeneity (ReHo) in the frontal lobe, while increased ReHo in the cerebellum anterior lobe was unique to the MBSR group. The present findings suggest that the minor modified MBSR program improves certain pain-related outcomes for Chinese adults with chronic pain. Future studies with larger samples of Chinese chronic pain patients are needed to detect the small-to-moderate benefit of MBSR on fMRI and/or other objective methods.

Consciously Connected: The Role of Mindfulness for Mobile Phone Connectedness and Stress

ABSTRACT Many mobile phone usage behaviors and cognitions have become habitual, and many people have developed a strong connectedness to their mobile phones and the internet. Yet, habitualized mobile phone connectedness might evoke stress and counter long-term goals. Mindfulness has shown promise in counteracting destructive (mobile phone) habits. Over the course of three preregistered studies, we investigated the interrelations between mindfulness, four dimensions of mobile phone connectedness, and stress. Our results indicate that more mindful individuals check their mobile phones less automatically, perform less multitasking, have a lower mobile phone attachment, and experience less online vigilance. Self-control is an important mediator in these relationships. Further, mindful individuals experience less stress; however, mobile phone behaviors and cognitions do not mediate this relationship. Moreover, mindfulness-based stress reduction training or mediation apps seem to be powerful tools for cultivating mindfulness, as they promoted an increase in mindfulness and a decrease in the investigated dimensions of mobile phone connectedness and stress. Results are discussed regarding implications for research and practice.

Effect of an Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention on Postpandemic Era Nurses' Subjective Well-being, Job Burnout, and Psychological Adaptation.

This study explores the effects of an online mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on postpandemic era nurses' subjective well-being, job burnout, and psychological adaptation. Previous studies on the psychological adaptability of nurses mainly focused on investigation rather than intervention. Ninety nurses were randomly classified into an intervention or control group. The intervention group received weekly online mindfulness-based stress reduction training for 8 weeks. The Subjective Well-being, Job Burnout, and Psychological Use scales were administered pre- and postintervention. Postintervention, nurses' positive emotions and life satisfaction significantly improved. Nurses' psychological adaptation was significantly higher postintervention than preintervention. The total scores for negative emotion, low personal accomplishment, and job burnout were significantly lower postintervention than preintervention. The scores for positive emotion and life satisfaction in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the scores for low personal accomplishment in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Online mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions can improve nurses' subjective well-being, reduce job burnout, and improve their level of psychological adaptability. Moreover, it could promote nurses' ability to communicate mindfully with patients and their families. This intervention could help promote the development of mindfulness in the nursing field.

374 Cognitive Biases and Heuristics in Surgical Settings: A Systematic Review

Abstract Aim Cognitive biases and heuristics represent mental shortcuts that can lead to errors in judgement. Both are noted in surgical settings and risk patient safety. Yet, up till now, the extent of biases in surgical settings has not been systematically reviewed. Method This PROSPERO registered (CRD42022334828) review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and four other major databases were searched from their inception to 28th August 2022 using “surg*” with “cognitive bia*” and “heuristics” terms. Original primary research studies in English were included, with blinded full text screening. Relevant risk of bias (RoB) tools were employed for each study. Results The search identified 26,640 papers. Following de-duplication and screening, 16 final papers were included. 34 biases were identified including three prospective experiments, three retrospective analyses, and 10 questionnaire studies. Confirmation and anchoring biases were the most represented. RoB analysis found broad heterogeneity, with four studies being deemed of high risk. All identified cognitive biases were found to influence relevant surgical outcomes and seven studies cited a negative impact on patient care. Conclusions Cognitive biases will continue to contribute to surgical errors and never events unless they are described and recognised with greater precision and de-biasing strategies are implemented. Of note, mindfulness-based training and deliberate reflection tested by two studies demonstrated reduced rates of surgical error. Nevertheless, our review demonstrates a lack of experimental studies which are crucial to understanding why and how biases contribute to negative outcomes and we suggest avenues for further research and systems change.

Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Leadership Training on Leadership Behaviors and Effectiveness

Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Leadership Training on Leadership Behaviors and Effectiveness

Using Mindfulness to Improve Quality of Life in Caregivers of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Agency Outcomes for Caregivers and Clients

ObjectivesResearch suggests that the quality of life of professional caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder can be enhanced through mindfulness-based training. The effects of such training have been evidenced in terms of perceived psychological stress, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue (i.e., burnout, secondary traumatic stress), and symptoms of depression. In addition to changes in caregiver personal outcomes, mindfulness-based training may have effects on the quality assurance variables of the agency that employs these caregivers. The aim of the present study was to examine the changes from a systems perspective in terms of quality assurance variables related to caregivers and clients in community-based group homes.MethodsProfessional caregivers (n = 216) were randomized into three experimental conditions based on the training they received: mindfulness, psychoeducation, or inservice training-as-usual (control). The effects of the training were assessed in terms of quality assurance indices pertaining to caregivers (progressive discipline, call-ins, days absent, medical referrals, hospitalizations, and caregiver turnover) and clients (learning objectives, behavioral episodes, use of physical restraints, emergency medications [stat], medical emergencies, hospitalizations, aggression to staff, aggression to peers, and level of supervision).ResultsOverall, caregivers in the mindfulness group exhibited significantly fewer progressive discipline and call-ins when compared to the psychoeducation and control groups. Caregivers in both the mindfulness and psychoeducation groups exhibited significantly fewer days of absence from work, medical referrals, and caregiver turnover when compared to the control group. There was no difference across the three groups in terms of hospitalizations. Clients under the care of mindfulness-trained caregivers showed significantly greater improvement in completing learning objectives, fewer behavioral episodes, reduced need for physical restraints and stat medication for behavioral episodes, fewer episodes of aggression to peers, and lower levels of supervision when compared to those in the psychoeducation and control groups. Clients did equally well in terms of medical emergencies, hospitalizations, and aggression to staff in the mindfulness and psychoeducation groups when compared to those in the control group.ConclusionsDifferential effects of mindfulness training, psychoeducation, and inservice training-as-usual were evident in quality assurance variables related to caregivers and clients. The results suggest that training caregivers in different approaches to self-care may differentially affect not only their clinical status but also at a systems level in terms of quality assurance indices.

Reducing alexithymia and increasing interoceptive awareness: A randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness with dyadic socio-emotional app-based practice

BackgroundEmotion processing deficits of alexithymia are a transdiagnostic risk factor. While such deficits are malleable, the differential efficacy of brief scalable digital mental trainings remains understudied. MethodsThis randomized controlled trial probed the efficacy of mindfulness-based (MB) and partner-based socio-emotional Affect Dyad (SE) practice, both supported by weekly coaching sessions, in reducing alexithymia in 285 adult participants. We investigated the predictive role of interoceptive awareness assessed a) before and after daily practice, b) in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) before and after the intervention, and c) weekly during the 10-week intervention. ResultsBoth interventions reduced emotion processing difficulties on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Similarly, both interventions improved interoceptive awareness immediately after daily practice and after the intervention period, yet SE outperformed MB training in EMA assessments. Further, only Dyad practice led to increases in body listening and self-regulatory aspects of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) over time, with the latter explaining a decrease in alexithymia. LimitationsGiven the subclinical study sample, findings are limited in their generalizability to clinical samples. ConclusionsFindings suggest that app-based socio-emotional and mindfulness-based practices, supported by online coaching sessions, are effective in reducing emotion processing deficits. Dyad training showed advantages on some measures of body awareness, which predicted observed changes in alexithymia. This highlights the potential of using app-based dyadic approaches in the development of emotion awareness and regulation.

Home treatment as an add-on to family-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa compared with standard family-based treatment and home-based stress reduction training: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundFamily-based treatment (FBT) is currently the most effective evidence-based treatment approach for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN). Home treatment (HT) as an add-on to FBT (FBT-HT) has been shown to be acceptable, feasible and effective. The described three-arm randomized clinical trial (RCT) is intended to investigate whether FBT-HT demonstrates higher efficacy compared to standard outpatient FBT with supplemental mindfulness-based stress reduction training (FBT-MBSR).MethodsThis RCT compares FBT-HT to standard outpatient FBT and FBT-MBSR as a credible home-based control group in terms of efficacy and delivery. Adolescents with AN or atypical AN disorder (n = 90) and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) are to be randomly assigned to either FBT, FBT-HT or FBT-MBSR groups. Eating disorder diagnosis and symptomatology are to be assessed by eating disorder professionals using standardized questionnaires and diagnostic instruments (Eating Disorder Examination, Eating Disorder Inventory, Body Mass Index). In addition, parents and caregivers independently provide information on eating behavior, intrafamily communication, stress experience and weight. The therapeutic process of the three treatments is to be measured and assessed among both participants and care providers. The feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness can thus also be evaluated.DiscussionWe hypothesize that FBT-HT will be an acceptable, appropriate and feasible intervention and, importantly, will outperform both established FBT and FBT-MBSR in improving adolescent weight and negative eating habits. Secondary outcome measures include the reduction in the stress experienced by caregivers, as well as the regulation of perceived expressed emotions within the family, while the intrafamily relationships are hypothesized to mediate/moderate the effectiveness of FBT. The proposed study has the potential to enhance the scientific and clinical understanding of the efficacy of FBT for AN, including whether the addition of HT to FBT versus another home-based adjunct intervention improves treatment outcomes. Furthermore, the study aligns with public health priorities to optimize the outcomes of evidence-based treatments and integrate the community setting.Trial registration This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05418075).

The impact of mindfulness training for nurses in lowering stress and enhancing well-being

Objective: this study aimed to determine that a short Mindfulness-Based (MB) training program could assist critical care nurses feel lowering stress and being more in control of their enhancing well-being (WB).Method: to assess the program's efficacy, a design consisting of a pre-post study with a single group and a quasi-experimental approach was used. This study was conducted in Malaysia at a tertiary referrals facility. The initiative included 40 nurses in critical care that volunteered as a part of a non-probability sample. With at least 79 % attendance, 36 people finished the course.Results: the process is a condensed form of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (b-MBCT), known locally as Mindful-Gym. The b-MBCT is a five-week based on groups course that meets once a week for two hours and includes practice sessions in between. It was distributed as a component of the hospital's ongoing training for nursing staff. The outcomes associated with stress were evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). In requisites of the results of one's state of WB, the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale and the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) were used.Conclusion: participants said that their perception of stress had significantly decreased after finishing the session (PSS: q &lt; 0,001; s = 0,40), anxiety (DASS-B: q &lt; 0,001; s =0,33), stress (DASS-T: q = 0,001; e = 0,53), depression (DASS-E: q &lt; 0,001; s = 0,35), and happiness (SHS: q = 0,026; e = 0,53), having an impact magnitude ranging from mild to significant. The findings provide credence to the efficacy of b-MBCT in lowering stress and enhancing WB with nurses working in critical care settings

A Systematic Review of Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) to Improve the Health Behaviours, Psychological Wellbeing and/or Physical Health of Police Staff

This review aimed to assess the use of positive psychology interventions (PPIs), such as using positive mantras, expressive writing, or gratitude diaries, to improve the health behaviours, psychological wellbeing and/or physical health of police staff. The review was registered on PROSPERO before 16 electronic databases were searched for published articles between January 1999 and February 2022. Included studies offered PPIs to improve the physical health (body mass index, blood pressure), psychological well-being (stress, anxiety, mood, emotion, depression, self-efficacy), or health behaviours (physical activity, sitting times, dietary habits, alcohol, or tobacco use) of police staff. The mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) was used to assess the risk of bias of included papers. The initial search yielded 4560 results; with 3385 papers remaining after duplicates were removed. Of these, 15 studies were included in the final review. Intervention types included mindfulness-based resilience training (n = 11), physical or wellness practice classes (n = 1), role-play and scenario-based interventions (n = 2) and expressive writing (n = 1). Mindfulness-based interventions improved many psychological wellbeing facets such as anxiety, depression, negative affect and quality of life. Limited improvements were observed for some health behaviours such as alcohol consumption and in self-reported general health. Expressive writing and role-play-based interventions were effective in reducing stress and anxiety, however, improvement in depression scores were inconsistent across studies. Positive psychology interventions are promising to support the health and wellbeing of police staff. Future research should investigate their mechanisms of action to support future innovation in support for police wellbeing.

Effect of mindfulness-based therapy on spiritual well-being in breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled study.

Spiritual well-being is directly related to the quality of life in breast cancer patients. Mindfulness-based therapy interventions can decrease distress levels in women with breast cancer, while improving spiritual well-being. To investigate the effect of mindfulness-based therapy on spiritual well-being in breast cancer patients. This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. A total of 70 participants were enrolled from September, 2021 to July, 2022. Primary outcome included spiritual well-being, and secondary outcome included quality of life. The data were collected using the Patient Sociodemographic and Medical Data Form and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being (SpWB) (FACIT-Sp Version 4). In the statistical analysis, the independent sample t test and paired sample t test were used to examine the intervention effect on primary and secondary outcomes, according to numbers, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and conformity to normal distribution. The average age of the therapy group was 42.22 ± 6.86, and the control group was 41.64 ± 6.04. The average score of meaning (12.25 ± 3.03), overall score average of the spiritual well-being (31.56 ± 8.90), the emotional well-being (13.46 ± 5.78) and physical well-being (16.71 ± 5.59), and overall average score of the quality of life (66.98 ± 17.72) of the therapy group was statistically significantly higher (p < 0.05). The mindfulness-based training may enhance the spiritual well-being and quality of life of breast cancer patients. Nurses should be encouraged for mindfulness-based training sessions to make it a widespread practice, and to regularly evaluate the results. NCT05057078 (date: September 27, 2021).

Rationale and design of Mind-HF: randomized trial of the original Mindfulness-Based Heart Training for patients with heart failure

Rationale and design of Mind-HF: randomized trial of the original Mindfulness-Based Heart Training for patients with heart failure

Effects of mindfulness training on decision-making in critical and high-demand situations: A pilot study in combat aviation

The current study investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based training program (Attentional Regulation Optimization) on decision-making in an elite population operating in a highly-demanding context, namely the actions of fighter pilots in critical flight situations that lead to ejection. Our hypothesis was that both mindfulness skills and decision-making performance would improve in pilots who participated in the ARO program (n = 7), compared to a control group (n = 8). Mindfulness skills were measured with the FFMQ-15. Decision-making performance was evaluated in two tests that were implemented in scenarios in a full flight simulator. Five dependent variables were assessed, corresponding to the phases of the decision-making process when faced with an in-flight failure: reaction time after the first failure input, correctness of the first action, emergency procedure score, ejection procedure score, and quality of ejection. Adherence to the ARO program was assessed with the number of out-of-class individual mindfulness sessions and the number of out-of-class body-mind scans.No statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills for the ARO group compared to the control group were found. Reaction time was significantly shortened for the ARO group compared to the control group—but only for complex failures. A positive effect on the correctness of the first action was also found. On the other hand, ARO training had no significant effect on the downstream phases of decision-making (emergency procedure score, ejection procedure score and quality of ejection).Given the small sample size, these results must be considered with caution. However, they open up interesting avenues for future work, notably with regard to the benefits of mindfulness training on perceptual and attentional skills (to detect flight failure cues) and cognitive control skills (to diagnose and select appropriate procedures). From an operational perspective, the program appears to have beneficial effects on safety and performance in elite populations who must face critical situations.