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Talebisiavashani F, Mohammadi-Sartang M. The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Mental Health and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Aging Health 2024:8982643241263882. [PMID: 39046424 DOI: 10.1177/08982643241263882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess whether mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) affect mental health and cognitive abilities in older adults. METHODS A systematic search was performed in PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to June 2023. Weight mean difference and 95% confidence intervals were provided as summary statistics. RESULTS In total, 26 articles were eligible. Overall, MBIs showed a statistically significant improvement in depression, anxiety, quality of life, and working memory compared to controls. However, no significant effects of MBIs on other cognitive parameters were found. In moderator analysis, less than eight weeks of MBIs showed greater improvement in anxiety and quality of life than longer periods. There was no evidence for publication bias. DISCUSSION Mindfulness-based interventions can be an encouraging alternative in place of conventional treatments in improving depression, anxiety, quality of life and working memory in cognition among older adults. However, findings strongly recommend future research to have definite conclusion.
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Joss D, Teicher MH, Lazar SW. Beneficial effects of mindfulness-based intervention on hippocampal volumes and episodic memory for childhood adversity survivors. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2024; 16:100769. [PMID: 38737193 PMCID: PMC11086948 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2024.100769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) has detrimental impacts on neural development, especially hippocampal morphometry. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) has been shown to induce adaptive hippocampal changes especially at the subiculum. The present study aims to investigate the effects of MBI on subiculum volumes among ACE survivors, as well as the effects on episodic memory as a probe into hippocampal functionality. Methods We analyzed anatomical MRI data and performance indices from an episodic memory task called the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST) collected from a randomized controlled longitudinal study that compared an 8-week MBI (N = 20) to an active control condition of Stress Management Education (SME) (N = 19). FreeSurfer 6.0 was used for automated hippocampal subfield segmentation and volumetric estimation. Results Significant group differences were observed with the volumetric changes of the right whole hippocampus and right subiculum. Only the MBI group showed improved pattern separation capability from MST, which was associated with stress reduction and right subiculum volumetric changes. Limitations Modest sample size. MST task was performed outside of MRI. Conclusions These findings suggest beneficial effects of MBI for hippocampal volumes and episodic memory, while highlighting the importance of the subiculum for MBI-induced neural and cognitive changes. The subiculum's known role in inhibitory control was interpreted as a potential mechanism for it to exhibit MBI-induced volumetric changes, which sheds light on the potential neural underpinnings of mindfulness meditation for reducing stress reactivity among ACE survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Joss
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Martin H. Teicher
- Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Sara W. Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Leibovitz SE, Sevinc G, Greenberg J, Hölzel B, Gard T, Calahan T, Vangel M, Orr SP, Milad MR, Lazar SW. Mindfulness training and exercise differentially impact fear extinction neurocircuitry. Psychol Med 2024; 54:835-846. [PMID: 37655520 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to extinguish a maladaptive conditioned fear response is crucial for healthy emotional processing and resiliency to aversive experiences. Therefore, enhancing fear extinction learning has immense potential emotional and health benefits. Mindfulness training enhances both fear conditioning and recall of extinguished fear; however, its effects on fear extinction learning are unknown. Here we investigated the impact of mindfulness training on brain mechanisms associated with fear-extinction learning, compared to an exercise-based program. METHODS We investigated BOLD activations in response to a previously learned fear-inducing cue during an extinction paradigm, before and after an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR, n = 49) or exercise-based stress management education program (n = 27). RESULTS The groups exhibited similar reductions in stress, but the MBSR group was uniquely associated with enhanced activation of salience network nodes and increased hippocampal engagement. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that mindfulness training increases attention to anticipatory aversive stimuli, which in turn facilitates decreased aversive subjective responses and enhanced reappraisal of the memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaked E Leibovitz
- College of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Gunes Sevinc
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan Greenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Britta Hölzel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich 81675, Germany
| | - Tim Gard
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Thomas Calahan
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Scott P Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Psychiatry Department, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sara W Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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Sim S, Maldonado IL, Castelnau P, Barantin L, El-Hage W, Andersson F, Cottier JP. Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis on magnetic resonance imaging: similarities and differences. A scoping review. J Neuroradiol 2024; 51:131-144. [PMID: 37981196 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mindfulness meditation (MM) and hypnosis practices are gaining interest in mental health, but their physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to synthesize the functional, morphometric and metabolic changes associated with each practice using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to identify their similarities and differences. METHODS MRI studies investigating MM and hypnosis in mental health, specifically stress, anxiety, and depression, were systematically screened following PRISMA guidelines from four research databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO) between 2010 and 2022. RESULTS In total, 97 references met the inclusion criteria (84 for MM and 13 for hypnosis). This review showed common and divergent points regarding the regions involved and associated brain connectivity during MM practice and hypnosis. The primary commonality between mindfulness and hypnosis was decreased default mode network intrinsic activity and increased central executive network - salience network connectivity. Increased connectivity between the default mode network and the salience network was observed in meditative practice and mindfulness predisposition, but not in hypnosis. CONCLUSIONS While MRI studies provide a better understanding of the neural basis of hypnosis and meditation, this review underscores the need for more rigorous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sindy Sim
- CHRU de Tours, service de radiologie, Tours, France
| | | | - Pierre Castelnau
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France; Service de Neuropédiatrie et Handicaps, Hôpital Clocheville, CHRU, Tours, France; CUMIC, Collège Universitaire des Médecines Intégratives et Complémentaires, Nantes, France
| | | | - Wissam El-Hage
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France; CHRU de Tours, Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire, Tours, France
| | | | - Jean-Philippe Cottier
- CHRU de Tours, service de radiologie, Tours, France; UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France; CUMIC, Collège Universitaire des Médecines Intégratives et Complémentaires, Nantes, France.
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Mora Álvarez MG, Hölzel BK, Bremer B, Wilhelm M, Hell E, Tavacioglu EE, Koch K, Torske A. Effects of web-based mindfulness training on psychological outcomes, attention, and neuroplasticity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22635. [PMID: 38114554 PMCID: PMC10730881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48706-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation training (MMT) reliably reduces stress and anxiety while also improving attention. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between MMT, stress and anxiety reduction, and its impact upon improvements in attention on the behavioral and neuronal levels. As a second aim, we sought to explore any relationship between MMT, attention, and modified states of mind such as flow. 118 healthy, meditation-naïve, participants were either assigned to a 31-day, web-based, MMT or an active control, health training (HT). Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing the attention network test (ANT) to assess functional and behavioural attentional changes, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess microstructural neuronal changes and completed relevant questionnaires to explore changes in psychological outcomes. Results confirmed a reduction in perceived stress and anxiety levels in the MMT group and significant improvements in the overall reaction time during the ANT, albeit no specific effects on the attentional components were observed. No statistically significant changes were found in the HT group. Interestingly, a significant group-by-time interaction was seen in flow experience. Functional data exhibited an increased activity in the superior frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, and right hippocampus during the alerting condition of the ANT after the MMT; decreased stress and trait anxiety were significantly correlated with the activation in the right hippocampus, and increased flow was also significantly correlated with all the aforementioned areas. DTI data showed increased fractional anisotropy values in the right uncinate fasciculus indicating white matter microarchitecture improvement between the right hippocampus and frontal areas of the brain. This study, therefore, demonstrates the effectiveness of web-based MMT on overall well-being and attentional performance, while also providing insight into the relationship between psychological outcomes, attention, and neuroplastic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Guadalupe Mora Álvarez
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Britta Karen Hölzel
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benno Bremer
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Wilhelm
- Center for Psychotherapy Research, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elena Hell
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ebru Ecem Tavacioglu
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Koch
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Alyssa Torske
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM-Neuroimaging Center (TUM-NIC), Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Martinsried, Germany
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Duffner LA, DeJong NR, Jansen JFA, Backes WH, de Vugt M, Deckers K, Köhler S. Associations between social health factors, cognitive activity and neurostructural markers for brain health - A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 89:101986. [PMID: 37356551 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Social health factors (e.g., social activities or social support) and cognitive activity engagement have been associated with dementia risk, but their neural substrates have not been well established. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the available evidence regarding the association between these factors and cerebral macro- and micro-structure. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in various databases, following predefined criteria. Heterogeneity, risk of publication bias and overall certainty of evidence were assessed using standardized scales and, whenever appropriate, random effects meta-analysis was conducted. Of 6715 identified articles, 43 were included. Overall, consistency of findings was low and methodological heterogeneity high for all outcomes. However, in some studies cognitive and social activities were positively associated with total brain, global and cortical grey matter and hippocampal volume as well as white matter microstructural integrity. Furthermore, structural social network characteristics (e.g., social network size) were associated with regional grey matter volumes, while functional social network characteristics (e.g., social support) were additionally associated with total brain volume. Meta-analyses revealed small but significant partial correlations between cognitive and social activities and hippocampal (three studies; n = 892; rz =0.07) and white matter hyperintensity volume (three studies; n = 2934; rz =-0.04). More prospective studies are needed to assess temporal associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas A Duffner
- Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Nathan R DeJong
- Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein de Vugt
- Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Kay Deckers
- Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Köhler
- Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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Lodha S, Gupta R. Mindfulness, Attentional Networks, and Executive Functioning: a Review of Interventions and Long-Term Meditation Practice. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-022-00254-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ganesan S, Beyer E, Moffat B, Van Dam NT, Lorenzetti V, Zalesky A. Focused attention meditation in healthy adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional functional MRI studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 141:104846. [PMID: 36067965 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Meditation trains the mind to focus attention towards an object or experience. Among different meditation techniques, focused attention meditation is considered foundational for more advanced practices. Despite renewed interest in its functional neural correlates, there is no unified neurocognitive model of focused attention meditation developed via quantitative synthesis of contemporary literature. Hence, we performed a quantitative systematic review and meta-analysis of all functional MRI studies examining focussed attention meditation. Following PRISMA guidelines, 28 studies were included in this review, of which 10 studies (200 participants) were amenable to activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. We found that regions comprising three key functional brain networks i.e., Default-mode, Salience, and Executive Control, were consistently implicated in focused attention meditation. Furthermore, meditation expertise, mindfulness levels and attentional skills were found to significantly influence the magnitude, but not regional extent, of activation and functional connectivity in these networks. Aggregating all evidence, we present a unified neurocognitive brain-network model of focused attention meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saampras Ganesan
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
| | - Emillie Beyer
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia.
| | - Bradford Moffat
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, Department of Radiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Nicholas T Van Dam
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Valentina Lorenzetti
- Neuroscience of Addiction and Mental Health Program, Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia.
| | - Andrew Zalesky
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.
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Bein M, Lesage M, Dikaios E, Chakravarty M, Segal Z, Royal I, Speechley M, Schiavetto A, Blumberger D, Sacchet MD, Therriault J, Gruber J, Tourjman V, Richard-Devantoy S, Nair V, Bruneau MA, Rej S, Lifshitz M, Sekhon H. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy vs. a health enhancement program for the treatment of late-life depression: Study protocol for a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:976636. [PMID: 36118690 PMCID: PMC9476649 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.976636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundLate-life depression (LLD) affects up to 18% of older adults and has been linked to elevated dementia risk. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) holds promise for treating symptoms of depression and ameliorating cognitive deficits in older adults. While preliminary findings are promising, a definitive RCT investigating its effects on late life depression and cognition have not yet been conducted. We present a protocol describing a multi-site blinded randomized controlled trial, comparing the effects of MBCT and of an active control, a Health Enhancement Program (HEP), on depressive symptoms, executive functioning, and brain biomarkers of LLD, among several other exploratory outcomes.MethodsTwo-hundred and thirteen (n = 213) patients with LLD will be recruited at various centers in Montreal, QC, Canada. Participants will undergo stratified randomization to either MBCT or HEP intervention groups. We will assess changes in (1) depression severity using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17), (2) processing speed and executive functioning, (3) brain biomarkers of LLD (hippocampal volume, default network resting-state functional connectivity and executive network resting-state functional connectivity), and (4) other exploratory physiological and mood-based measures, at baseline (0 weeks), post intervention (8 weeks), and 26 weeks after baseline.DiscussionThe proposed study will assess the clinical potential of MBCT to improve symptoms of depression, as well as examine its impact on cognitive impairments and neurobiological markers, and thus inform its use as a promising adjunct in the treatment of LLD.Clinical trial registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05366088.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Bein
- Department of Psychiatry, GeriPARTy Research Group, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Myriam Lesage
- Department of Psychiatry, GeriPARTy Research Group, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Elena Dikaios
- Department of Psychiatry, GeriPARTy Research Group, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mallar Chakravarty
- Departments of Biological and Biomedical Engineering and Psychiatry, Centre d'imagerie cérébrale, Douglas Mental Health Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Zindel Segal
- University of Toronto–Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Isabelle Royal
- Neuropsychology Service, Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mark Speechley
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Alessandra Schiavetto
- Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Daniel Blumberger
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew D. Sacchet
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph Therriault
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Douglas Mental Health Institute, Le Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) de l'Ouest de l'Île de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Johanna Gruber
- Department of Psychiatry, GeriPARTy Research Group, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Valerie Tourjman
- Department of Psychiatry, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Vasavan Nair
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health Institute, Verdun, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Andrée Bruneau
- Département de psychiatrie et d'addictologie, Research Centre, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Soham Rej
- Department of Psychiatry, GeriPARTy Research Group, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Soham Rej
| | - Michael Lifshitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Harmehr Sekhon
- Department of Psychiatry, GeriPARTy Research Group, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, McLean Hospital, Cambridge, MA, United States
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Rapport MD, Friedman LM, Pothoven C, Calub C. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Forgetfulness: Does Time-Related Decay Reflect Deficient Rehearsal? JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10862-022-09979-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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11
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González-Palau F, Medrano LA. A Mini-Review of Work Stress and Mindfulness: A Neuropsychological Point of View. Front Psychol 2022; 13:854204. [PMID: 35496192 PMCID: PMC9051328 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.854204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Work stress is consistently linked with the deterioration of cognitive and mental health, limitations in everyday workplace performance, and an increased risk of developing diseases. A common thread binding these consequences appears to be stress-associated alterations in neuropsychological functions and affective domains, especially those reliant on hippocampal, prefrontal, and amygdala brain area. Although research broadly supports the claim that the practice of mindfulness meditation for the reduction of the consequences of stress and the promotion of health exert positive effects on workplaces, the precise neuropsychological benefits of Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in the context of organizations remain elusive. In this review, we will analyze the impairments imposed by stress on the brain areas and functions and the benefits of MBIs from a neuropsychological point of view. This is significant since there is a centrality of cognitive functions in core processes necessary for work achievements, such as emotion regulation, problem-solving, and learning. The promotion of wellbeing is a responsibility shared between workers and organizations. Developing healthy environments allows workers to exercise greater control over their work, face work challenges, work productively and develop their talent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fátima González-Palau
- Instituto de Organizaciones Saludables, Universidad Siglo 21, Córdoba, Argentina
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, Neurology Service, Sanatorio Allende Cerro Hospital, Córdoba, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Fátima González-Palau,
| | - Leonardo Adrián Medrano
- Instituto de Organizaciones Saludables, Universidad Siglo 21, Córdoba, Argentina
- Vicerrectoria de Investigación, Pontifica Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
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Hong C, Ding C, Zhu Y, Chen S, Zhang Y, Yuan H, Yang D. 正念干预改善抑郁个体执行功能及其神经机制. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2022. [DOI: 10.1360/tb-2022-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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13
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Schuman-Olivier Z, Trombka M, Lovas DA, Brewer JA, Vago DR, Gawande R, Dunne JP, Lazar SW, Loucks EB, Fulwiler C. Mindfulness and Behavior Change. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2021; 28:371-394. [PMID: 33156156 PMCID: PMC7647439 DOI: 10.1097/hrp.0000000000000277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Initiating and maintaining behavior change is key to the prevention and treatment of most preventable chronic medical and psychiatric illnesses. The cultivation of mindfulness, involving acceptance and nonjudgment of present-moment experience, often results in transformative health behavior change. Neural systems involved in motivation and learning have an important role to play. A theoretical model of mindfulness that integrates these mechanisms with the cognitive, emotional, and self-related processes commonly described, while applying an integrated model to health behavior change, is needed. This integrative review (1) defines mindfulness and describes the mindfulness-based intervention movement, (2) synthesizes the neuroscience of mindfulness and integrates motivation and learning mechanisms within a mindful self-regulation model for understanding the complex effects of mindfulness on behavior change, and (3) synthesizes current clinical research evaluating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions targeting health behaviors relevant to psychiatric care. The review provides insight into the limitations of current research and proposes potential mechanisms to be tested in future research and targeted in clinical practice to enhance the impact of mindfulness on behavior change.
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14
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Physical and mental health outcomes including behavior and attitudes in people having social contacts with COVID-19 patients. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245945. [PMID: 33529204 PMCID: PMC7853483 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has spread worldwide since late 2019. People who have social contacts with COVID-19 patients might be at higher risk of physical or mental health problems. This study investigated whether people who had social contacts with COVID-19 patients would have poorer physical or mental outcomes, and different attitudes and behaviors. Chinese adults were recruited to fill in an online survey using snowball sampling during 21st-26nd February 2020. Physical symptoms, psychological outcomes, quality of life, COVID-19 related attitudes, and behaviors were measured. The differences in the outcomes between participants who had COVID-19 social contacts and those who had not were analyzed. The survey included 1,447 non-infected eligible participants. Among those, 173 (12.0%) reported at least one confirmed/suspected case in their social contacts. In the multiple regression adjusted for demographic data, the presence of confirmed/suspected infection cases in one’s social contacts was significantly associated with poorer physical and mental outcomes, lower health-related quality of life, and different COVID-19 related attitudes and behaviors (p<0.05). In conclusion, people who had social contacts with COVID-19 patients were at risk of adverse health outcomes. Future studies are needed to understand the long-term impacts. Similarly, strategies to improve health outcomes for these people are needed.
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15
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Brief Report: Mindfulness Training for Chinese Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Parents in Hong Kong. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:4147-4159. [PMID: 33484370 PMCID: PMC8510984 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04729-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a concurrent mindfulness program (MYmind) on Chinese adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and their parents in Hong Kong, China using a randomized controlled trial with a waitlist control group. Results showed the study had 80% compliance rate, 0% dropout rate, and 89% response rate. Between-group comparisons showed mindfulness had trend effects on parent’s rumination (g = 1.16), mindful parenting (d = 0.6), parenting style (d = 0.59), and parenting stress (d = 0.5). The study demonstrated the feasibility of the MYmind program in the Chinese context. A larger trial with longer follow-up period is suggested to better examine the effect of mindfulness on adolescents with ASD and their parents.
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16
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Greenberg J, Singh T, Iverson GL, Silverberg ND, Macklin EA, Parker RA, Giacino JT, Yeh GY, Vranceanu AM. A Live Video Mind-Body Treatment to Prevent Persistent Symptoms Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e25746. [PMID: 33443484 PMCID: PMC7843203 DOI: 10.2196/25746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Every year, approximately 42 million people sustain a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI, also known as concussion), with particularly high rates among college-aged individuals. A substantial proportion of these people (44%-64%) develop persistent symptoms that are challenging to treat, costly, and associated with significant disability. Anxiety has emerged as a risk factor for progression from acute to persistent mTBI symptoms. Objective This study aims to develop, adapt, and establish the feasibility of the Toolkit for Optimal Recovery after Concussions (TOR-C), an innovative mind-body program aimed at preventing persistent symptoms among young adults with mTBI and comorbid anxiety. Here, we describe the proposed study design, methodology, measurement, and treatment manuals. Methods In phase 1, we will conduct individual, live video qualitative interviews (up to n=20) with college-aged individuals with mTBI and comorbid anxiety to inform adaptation of the intervention and study procedures. In phase 2, an open pilot of the live video TOR-C (n=5) with exit interviews will be conducted to explore the initial feasibility, acceptability, and credibility of the program and to refine the study procedures. Phase 3 will involve conducting a feasibility randomized controlled trial (N=50) of the TOR-C versus a health education control (Health Enhancement for Concussions; HE-C), both delivered via live video, to establish feasibility of recruitment procedures (screening, eligibility, and enrollment) and data collection; feasibility, credibility, and acceptability of the live video TOR-C and HE-C (adherence, retention, fidelity, and satisfaction) following prespecified benchmarks; and a signal of improvement in outcomes. Results Phase 1 of the study has been approved by the Massachusetts General Hospital Institutional Review Board. Study completion is anticipated by early 2025. Conclusions We will develop and test the first mind-body intervention focused on prevention of persistent symptoms following mTBI in young adults with comorbid anxiety problems. This will allow us to establish feasibility markers in postconcussive symptoms, anxiety, disability, and fear avoidance to inform a future efficacy trial of the TOR-C versus HE-C. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/25746
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Greenberg
- Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tanya Singh
- Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Grant L Iverson
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Spaulding Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States.,MassGeneral Hospital for Children Sports Concussion Program, Boston, MA, United States.,Home Base, A Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Noah D Silverberg
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Eric A Macklin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Robert A Parker
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Biostatistics Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph T Giacino
- Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gloria Y Yeh
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ana-Maria Vranceanu
- Integrated Brain Health Clinical and Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Wei H, Kifner H, Dawes ME, Wei TL, Boyd JM. Self-care Strategies to Combat Burnout Among Pediatric Critical Care Nurses and Physicians. Crit Care Nurse 2021; 40:44-53. [PMID: 32236429 DOI: 10.4037/ccn2020621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Professional burnout is a widespread phenomenon in health care. The health of patients and organizations begins with the well-being of health care professionals. Identifying and understanding self-care strategies that professionals perceive to be helpful is crucial to combat burnout. OBJECTIVE To determine perceptions of self-care strategies to combat professional burnout among nurses and physicians in pediatric critical care settings. METHODS This was a qualitative descriptive study with a phenomenological overtone. The study was conducted in a 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit and an 8-bed intermediate care unit of a children's hospital in the United States. Information flyers and emails were used to introduce the study. A combination of convenience and purposive sampling methods was used to recruit participants who were full-time nurses and physicians in the 2 units. Information saturation was used to regulate sample sizes, resulting in 20 participants. Data were collected through a onetime face-to-face interview with each participant. A qualitative descriptive approach was used to analyze the data. The first author was the primary coder and discussed the codes with the coauthors throughout the coding process. RESULTS Six major self-care strategies were identified: finding meaning in work, connecting with an energy source, nurturing interpersonal connections, developing an attitude of positivity, performing emotional hygiene, and recognizing one's uniqueness and contributions at work. CONCLUSIONS Developing effective self-care strategies helps promote health care professionals' physical and psychological well-being and reduce burnout. It is vital for health care professionals to care for themselves so that they can best care for others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Wei
- Holly Wei is an assistant professor, Graduate Nurse Leadership Concentration, College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Hadley Kifner is a chaplain, Melanie E. Dawes is Clinical Director of Children's Services, and Jenny M. Boyd is an associate professor and Service Line Director of Pediatric Critical Care, University of North Carolina Healthcare at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Trent L. Wei is a resident physician at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Hadley Kifner
- Holly Wei is an assistant professor, Graduate Nurse Leadership Concentration, College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Hadley Kifner is a chaplain, Melanie E. Dawes is Clinical Director of Children's Services, and Jenny M. Boyd is an associate professor and Service Line Director of Pediatric Critical Care, University of North Carolina Healthcare at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Trent L. Wei is a resident physician at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Melanie E Dawes
- Holly Wei is an assistant professor, Graduate Nurse Leadership Concentration, College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Hadley Kifner is a chaplain, Melanie E. Dawes is Clinical Director of Children's Services, and Jenny M. Boyd is an associate professor and Service Line Director of Pediatric Critical Care, University of North Carolina Healthcare at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Trent L. Wei is a resident physician at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Trent L Wei
- Holly Wei is an assistant professor, Graduate Nurse Leadership Concentration, College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Hadley Kifner is a chaplain, Melanie E. Dawes is Clinical Director of Children's Services, and Jenny M. Boyd is an associate professor and Service Line Director of Pediatric Critical Care, University of North Carolina Healthcare at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Trent L. Wei is a resident physician at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jenny M Boyd
- Holly Wei is an assistant professor, Graduate Nurse Leadership Concentration, College of Nursing, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina. Hadley Kifner is a chaplain, Melanie E. Dawes is Clinical Director of Children's Services, and Jenny M. Boyd is an associate professor and Service Line Director of Pediatric Critical Care, University of North Carolina Healthcare at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Trent L. Wei is a resident physician at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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Wei H, Hardin SR, Watson J. A unitary caring science resilience-building model: Unifying the human caring theory and research-informed psychology and neuroscience evidence. Int J Nurs Sci 2021; 8:130-135. [PMID: 33575453 PMCID: PMC7859535 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Resilience is the psychological capability to recover from difficulties quickly. Healthcare professionals are especially vulnerable to job-related stress and burnout. Unitary Caring Science is the framework for Watson's Human Caring Theory, providing a philosophy of practice in healthcare. With the high rates of clinician burnout and psychological issues, it will be significant to unify the human caring theory with research-informed psychological and neuroscience evidence to develop clinicians' resilience-building strategies. The purpose of this article is to introduce a Unitary Caring Science Resilience Model and explain the science behind the core strategies based on Unitary Caring Science philosophy and the psychological and neuroscience research. This model includes six strategies: Embracing loving-kindness for self and others; Nurturing interpersonal and intersubjective connections/relations; Deepening a creative use of self and sense of belonging; Balancing self-learning, self-awareness, and an evolved self-consciousness; Valuing forgiveness and releasing negativity; Inspiring and maintaining faith-hope. The caring-theory guided resilience-building strategies are proven to alleviate the depletion of clinicians' energy and emotions. Healthcare practices are challenging but rewarding. Clinicians can be emotionally, psychologically, and physically exhausted if they always consider themselves 'giving' and 'doing' institutional tasks without a sense of purpose or fulfillment. The practice can be rewarding if it becomes more aligned with clinicians' value to serve humanity. Through the unitary caring science resilience strategies, clinicians can build resilience as an antidote to clinician burnout and depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Wei
- College of Nursing at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | | | - Jean Watson
- Watson Caring Science Institute, Distinguished Professor/Dean Emerita University of Colorado Denver College of Nursing, CO, USA
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No State Effects of Brief Mindfulness Meditation on the Executive Functions of Inhibition, Shifting, and Updating. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-020-00198-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Yakobi O, Smilek D, Danckert J. The Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Attention, Executive Control and Working Memory in Healthy Adults: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. COGNITIVE THERAPY AND RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10608-020-10177-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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21
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Brief Mindfulness Meditation Induces Gray Matter Changes in a Brain Hub. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8830005. [PMID: 33299395 PMCID: PMC7704181 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8830005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that the practice of long-term (months to years) mindfulness meditation induces structural plasticity in gray matter. However, it remains unknown whether short-term (<30 days) mindfulness meditation in novices could induce similar structural changes. Our previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) identified white matter changes surrounding the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) within 2 to 4 weeks, following 5-10 h of mindfulness training. Furthermore, these changes were correlated with emotional states in healthy adults. The PCC is a key hub in the functional anatomy implicated in meditation and other perspectival processes. In this longitudinal study using a randomized design, we therefore examined the effect of a 10 h of mindfulness training, the Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) on gray matter volume of the PCC compared to an active control-relaxation training (RT). We found that brief IBMT increased ventral PCC volume and that baseline temperamental trait-an index of individual differences was associated with a reduction in training-induced gray matter increases. Our findings indicate that brief mindfulness meditation induces gray matter plasticity, suggesting that structural changes in ventral PCC-a key hub associated with self-awareness, emotion, cognition, and aging-may have important implications for protecting against mood-related disorders and aging-related cognitive declines.
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22
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Sevinc G, Greenberg J, Hölzel BK, Gard T, Calahan T, Brunsch V, Hashmi JA, Vangel M, Orr SP, Milad MR, Lazar SW. Hippocampal circuits underlie improvements in self-reported anxiety following mindfulness training. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01766. [PMID: 32700828 PMCID: PMC7507558 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mindfulness meditation has successfully been applied to cultivate skills in self-regulation of emotion, as it employs the unbiased present moment awareness of experience. This heightened attention to and awareness of sensory experience has been postulated to create an optimal therapeutic exposure condition and thereby improve extinction learning. We recently demonstrated increased connectivity in hippocampal circuits during the contextual retrieval of extinction memory following mindfulness training. METHODS Here, we examine the role of structural changes in hippocampal subfields following mindfulness training in a randomized controlled longitudinal study using a two-day fear-conditioning and extinction protocol. RESULTS We demonstrate an association between mindfulness training-related increases in subiculum and decreased hippocampal connectivity to lateral occipital regions during contextual retrieval of extinguished fear. Further, we demonstrate an association between decreased connectivity and decreases in self-reported anxiety following mindfulness training. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight the role of the subiculum in gating interactions with contextual stimuli during memory retrieval and, also, the mechanisms through which mindfulness training may foster resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunes Sevinc
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Greenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Britta K Hölzel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tim Gard
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas Calahan
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vincent Brunsch
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Javeria A Hashmi
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott P Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Psychiatry Department, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara W Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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[The Effect of a Short-Term Mindfulness Program on Memory Performance in School-Aged Children]. Prax Kinderpsychol Kinderpsychiatr 2020; 69:305-320. [PMID: 32615892 DOI: 10.13109/prkk.2020.69.4.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Effect of a Short-Term Mindfulness Program on Memory Performance in School-Aged Children A one-week mindfulness-based intervention designed to improve 8- to 10-year-old children's memory performance was investigated. Seventy-three children were quasi-randomly assigned either to one of two mindfulness-based intervention groups (breathing meditation or yoga), or to an active control group. The sessions were held on six consecutive days. Prior to intervention and after completing the intervention, children's short-term and long-term memory performance were assessed. In confirmation of prior studies, breathing meditation and yoga showed positive effects on memory performance when compared with the control group. Moreover, differences in the effectiveness of breathing meditation and yoga were found: While both interventions had comparable effects on long-term memory, only breathing meditation showed improvements in short-term memory performance. The present study provides valuable evidence on the effectiveness of meditation on cognitive functions in childhood and shows that school-aged children can already benefit from short-term meditation programs.
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Abstract
School-based Mindfulness Programs for Children and Adolescents Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's bodily sensations, sensory feedback, thoughts, and feelings. Mindfulness interventions can improve proprioception, direction of attention, and emotion regulation. An accepting attitude towards thoughts and feelings reduces the experience of stress so that it is easier to cope with stressful situations. The regular practice of mindfulness exercises affects neurobiological mechanisms, which can lead to an improvement of executive functions as well as psychological health. Metaanalyses provide evidence of small effects of mindfulness interventions in schools, both in cognitive areas (executive functions, concentration, memory) and in emotional areas (anxiety, depressivity, wellbeing). The focus of this review article is on German and English-language mindfulness programmes for children and adolescents in schools, which have already been the subject of initial evaluation studies. This study presents the programmes Paws b, Mind Up, and Mehr Ruhe for children, and .b, Mind Up, AISCHU, and 8sam for adolescents, together with their evaluation results. The conclusion discusses open questions concerning conceptual and methodological issues.
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Saghayi M, Greenberg J, O’Grady C, Varno F, Hashmi MA, Bracken B, Matwin S, Lazar SW, Hashmi JA. Brain network topology predicts participant adherence to mental training programs. Netw Neurosci 2020; 4:528-555. [PMID: 32885114 PMCID: PMC7462432 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Adherence determines the success and benefits of mental training (e.g., meditation) programs. It is unclear why some participants engage more actively in programs for mental training than others. Understanding neurobiological factors that predict adherence is necessary for understanding elements of learning and to inform better designs for new learning regimens. Clustering patterns in brain networks have been suggested to predict learning performance, but it is unclear whether these patterns contribute to motivational aspects of learning such as adherence. This study tests whether configurations of brain connections in resting-state fMRI scans can be used to predict adherence to two programs: meditation and creative writing. Results indicate that greater system segregation and clustering predict the number of practice sessions and class participation in both programs at a wide range of network thresholds (corrected p value < 0.05). At a local level, regions in subcortical circuitry such as striatum and accumbens predicted adherence in all subjects. Furthermore, there were also some important distinctions between groups: Adherence to meditation was predicted by connectivity within local network of the anterior insula and default mode network; and in the writing program, adherence was predicted by network neighborhood of frontal and temporal regions. Four machine learning methods were applied to test the robustness of the brain metric for classifying individual capacity for adherence and yielded reasonable accuracy. Overall, these findings underscore the fact that adherence and the ability to perform prescribed exercises is associated with organizational patterns of brain connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzie Saghayi
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, NSHA, Halifax, Canada
| | | | - Christopher O’Grady
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, NSHA, Halifax, Canada
| | - Farshid Varno
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | | | | | - Stan Matwin
- Faculty of Computer Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Institute of Computer Science, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sara W. Lazar
- Harvard Medical School, Mass General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Javeria Ali Hashmi
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, NSHA, Halifax, Canada
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Zhou H, Liu H, Deng Y. Effects of short-term mindfulness-based training on executive function: Divergent but promising. Clin Psychol Psychother 2020; 27:672-685. [PMID: 32267587 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Mindfulness-based training (MBT) has repeatedly been proven effective in improving mental health, as well as in eliciting advantages in executive functions (EFs), as demonstrated by objective measures. However, few studies have discussed the role MBT plays in increasing EFs over short periods of time. This current review, to our knowledge, is the first study to investigate the effect of short-term MBT on EFs. In this case, 14 studies were eventually included after literature screening using PubMed, MEDLINE, Elsevier, Embase, EBSCO and references from retrieved articles. We found that the relationship between short-term MBT and three main components of EFs were found controversial. Some reported that individuals' inhibition, working memory and attention shifting were significantly improved by short-term MBT, whereas others reported no such strong connections between MBT and EFs. These controversial findings result from the use of varied assessment instruments, cognitive tasks and experimental materials. Nonetheless, the findings from this review suggest short-term MBT could be of great value in improving mental health, which might especially enable the enhancement of individuals' inhibition and updating subfunctions of EFs. These practical evidences could have a strong impact on clinical psychology. However, the lack of consistency across the studies in this review indicated that more standardized and profound studies exploring the effects of short-term MBT on EFs are needed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honggui Zhou
- Psychosomatic Health Institute, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunlong Deng
- Psychosomatic Health Institute, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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27
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Sevinc G, Hölzel BK, Greenberg J, Gard T, Brunsch V, Hashmi JA, Vangel M, Orr SP, Milad MR, Lazar SW. Strengthened Hippocampal Circuits Underlie Enhanced Retrieval of Extinguished Fear Memories Following Mindfulness Training. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 86:693-702. [PMID: 31303261 PMCID: PMC6788973 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of hippocampus in context-dependent recall of extinction is well recognized. However, little is known about how intervention-induced changes in hippocampal networks relate to improvements in extinction learning. In this study, we hypothesized that mindfulness training creates an optimal exposure condition by heightening attention and awareness of present moment sensory experience, leading to enhanced extinction learning, improved emotion regulation, and reduced anxiety symptoms. METHODS We tested this hypothesis in a randomized controlled longitudinal study design using a 2-day fear conditioning and extinction protocol. The mindfulness training group included 42 participants (28 women) and the control group included 25 participants (15 women). RESULTS We show that mindfulness training is associated with differential engagement of the right supramarginal gyrus as well as hippocampal-cortical reorganization. We also report enhanced hippocampal connectivity to the primary sensory cortex during retrieval of extinguished stimuli following mindfulness training. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest hippocampal-dependent changes in contextual retrieval as one plausible neural mechanism through which mindfulness-based interventions enhance fear extinction and foster stress resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunes Sevinc
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Britta K. Hölzel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jonathan Greenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tim Gard
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vincent Brunsch
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Javaria A. Hashmi
- Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Dalhousie University, Canada
| | - Mark Vangel
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott P. Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sara W. Lazar
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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A neurobehavioral account for decentering as the salve for the distressed mind. Curr Opin Psychol 2019; 28:285-293. [PMID: 31059966 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Distress is commonly characterized by prolonged internal suffering that can range from self-focused processing of negative emotions and stressors, to highly intensely aversive and prolonged emotional states, thereby, worsening or complicating emotional and physical conditions. Decentering represents a metacognitive capacity thought to reflect three interrelated processes: meta-awareness, disidentification from internal experience, and reduced reactivity to thought content-which is reliably increased with mindfulness-based interventions. In this essay, we seek to link the clinical presentation of distress disorders to known or hypothesized disruptions in neural networks that underlie emotion, cognition, and goal directed behavior, and offer a neurobehavioral account for how and why treatments imbued with mindfulness meditation might ameliorate these conditions, in part through increases in decentering.
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