The Mindful Self: A Mindfulness-Enlightened Self-view

Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation

In this study, for the first time, we explored a dataset of functional magnetic resonance images collected during focused attention and open monitoring meditation before and after a five-day psilocybin-assisted meditation retreat using a recently established approach, based on the Mapper algorithm from topological data analysis. After generating subject-specific maps for two groups (psilocybin vs. placebo, 18 subjects/group) of experienced meditators, organizational principles were uncovered using graph topological tools, including the optimal transport (OT) distance, a geometrically rich measure of similarity between brain activity patterns. This revealed characteristics of the topology (i.e. shape) in space (i.e. abstract space of voxels) and time dimension of whole-brain activity patterns during different styles of meditation and psilocybin-induced alterations. Most interestingly, we found that (psilocybin-induced) positive derealization, which fosters insightfulness specifically when accompanied by enhanced open-monitoring meditation, was linked to the OT distance between open-monitoring and resting state. Our findings suggest that enhanced meta-awareness through meditation practice in experienced meditators combined with potential psilocybin-induced positive alterations in perception mediate insightfulness. Together, these findings provide a novel perspective on meditation and psychedelics that may reveal potential novel brain markers for positive synergistic effects between mindfulness practices and psilocybin.

Reducing Menopausal Symptoms With Mindfulness-Based Meditation

Midlife women often experience menopausal symptoms despite being treated according to clinical guidelines. The consequences of not addressing menopausal symptoms holistically are that 55% of women see primary care providers frequently with menopausal symptom complaints. The problem was women's lack of coping strategies to deal with their symptoms effectively. The interventions aimed to (1) develop a protocol to provide point-of-care mindfulness-based meditation intervention as a standard of care, (2) evaluate improvements in coping self-efficacy skills, and (3) demonstrate the intervention's impact on menopausal symptoms. Twenty women participated in a short meditation intervention at a micro practice in Oregon from January to May 2022 and continued an 8-week home practice. Self-reported measures of menopausal symptoms, coping self-efficacy, and demographic data were collected pre- and pos-tprogram. A percentage of women determined improvements, and t tests evaluated differences between pre-and postintervention assessments. Pearson correlation coefficients identified associations between the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS), its subscales, and the Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) postintervention. The women showed 78% improved coping self-efficacy and 89% alleviated menopausal symptoms. The t test revealed a statistically significant change between pre- and post-CSES scores (t17 = 4.19, P < .001) and MRS scores (t17 = 4.78, P < .001). The post-MRS total score was significantly negatively correlated with the post-CSES score (r = -0.49, P = .039), indicating that symptoms decreased as self-efficacy improved. The outcomes of this project show that menopausal women can cope and alleviate their symptoms with an easy and feasible mindfulness-based meditation intervention.

An Eight-Week Zen Meditation and Music Programme for Mindfulness and Happiness: Qualitative Content Analysis

Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness programmes have been explored to provide students with pleasant and satisfying experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on the mindfulness and happiness levels of university music therapy students. A qualitative methodology was used, and data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. To investigate various aspects of data regarding the role of the meditation and music (MM) programme for mindfulness and happiness, this study used thematic analysis within a qualitative research design. The findings of this study suggest that the 8-week Mindfulness Meditation (MM) programme is a potential approach for enhancing mindfulness, happiness and stress management. These results carry broader implications, particularly in terms of supporting mental health resources in higher education. Furthermore, the study contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the positive impact of combining meditation and music to promote mental well-being. This integrated approach has the potential to strengthen coping strategies and further promote the integration of music and meditation practices in various contexts, including higher education.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on mental, cognitive outcomes and neuroplastic changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

To evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on mental and cognitive outcomes including, anxiety, depression, attention, memory, global cognition and neuroplastic changes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCE

A three-step search strategy was conducted on eight electronic databases, grey literature and reference lists from inception to February 2022.

REVIEW METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining MBIs on older adults with MCI were screened and assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan using a random-effect model. Narrative synthesis was performed for studies where results could not be pooled statistically.

RESULTS

Ten RCTs were included in the review. Results suggested that right frontal parietal and left inferior temporal gyrus of the brain showed increased cortical thickness after receiving MBIs. There were significant interaction effects for global efficiency and significant interactions in the insular and gyrus regions. Functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex, bilateral medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus were increased in participants undergoing MBIs. Nevertheless, meta-analysis showed non-significant pooled effects, favouring control groups on anxiety, depression, attention, memory and global cognition.

CONCLUSION

This review suggested the potential effects of MBIs in improving cortical thickness and connectivity in regions associated with memory and attention. Nevertheless, the effects of MBIs compared to active control groups on depression, anxiety, attention, memory and global cognition are inconclusive due to the lack of studies and non-significant results.

IMPACT

The review advocates for more rigorous studies with larger sample size and utilizing wait-list controls to evaluate the effects of MBIs. MBIs can be considered as an adjunct with other therapies to further enhance the effect on psychological and cognitive outcomes for older adults with MCI. No Patient or Public Contribution as this is a meta-analysis.

Advancing the study of life and death education: theoretical framework and research inquiries for further development

Life and death education, also known as life education and death education, is an interesting subject that may coincide with the subject of lifespan development. In brief, from our theoretical perspective, which guides our teaching and curriculum development, life education considers personal understanding of life functioning on a daily basis, whereas death education explores matters that are related to death and dying. For example, how can a social worker utilize his life knowledge, or life wisdom, to assist a relative to understand the intricate nature of death? In a similar vein, how can a senior citizen use her personal experience of Buddhist meditation practice to overcome a minor Covid setback? Central to our teaching practice is the premise of 'active transformation' (i.e., transforming life knowledge into positive practice) and the premise of 'theoretical infusion' (e.g., the infusion of a distinctive epistemological belief in the teaching of life) that would, in turn, help to enhance and facilitate deep, meaningful understanding of life and death. The purpose of the present article is for us to discuss a proposition of a theoretical-conceptual model, which depicts the 'unification' or integration of three major viewpoints of life and death: the social viewpoint, the philosophical viewpoint, and the psychological viewpoint. We theorize that unification of the three theoretical viewpoints may help provide grounding for effective teaching and holistic understanding of the subject contents of life and death. Such discourse, importantly, may also assist to advance the scope and complexity of the lifespan development subject. Finally, in addition to our theoretical-conceptual model of life and death, we propose three major research inquiries for development: the meaning of situated mindset, the underlying nature of spiritual transcendence, and proposition of appropriate methodological accounts for usage. Overall, then, we purport that our conceptual analysis and discussion overview, based on philosophical reflection, may serve to stimulate interest, intellectual curiosity, scholarly dialog, etc.

Adherence to CPAP Treatment: Can Mindfulness Play a Role?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is considered a chronic disease that requires long-term multidisciplinary management for effective treatment. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is still considered the gold standard of therapy. However, CPAP effectiveness is limited due to poor patients' adherence, as almost 50% of patients discontinue treatment after a year. Several interventions have been used in order to increase CPAP adherence. Mindfulness-based therapies have been applied in other sleep disorders such as insomnia but little evidence exists for their application on OSA patients. This review aims to focus on the current data on whether mindfulness interventions may be used in order to increase CPAP adherence and improve the sleep quality of OSA patients. Even though controlled trials of mindfulness and CPAP compliance remain to be performed, this review supports the hypothesis that mindfulness may be used as an adjunct method in order to increase CPAP adherence in OSA patients.

Positive Vibes are Not Always Easy: Examining the Association Between Covid-19 Stress and Mental Well-Being

The virus known as Covid-19 caused a global pandemic in 2019 and was found to have a devastating impact on mental well-being. Individuals around the world had difficulty retaining positive emotions such as gratitude, mindfulness, and hope in the face of this disaster. These feelings diminished their sense of mental well-being. This study examined the mediational model of gratitude, mindfulness, and hope as parallel mediators of the relationship between Covid-19 stress and mental well-being. In total, 289 adults from the general population completed the scales of Covid stress, gratitude, mindfulness, hope, and mental well-being. Results indicated that Covid-19 stress was related to mental well-being, with mindfulness and hope acting as mediators. Gratitude, on the other hand, did not mediate the relationship. The study provides evidence that targeting gratitude, mindfulness, and hope may have a meaningful effect on Covid-19 stress as a related symptom and potentially have a negative impact on mental well-being during the pandemic.

The Effects of Mindfulness and Buddhist Meditation Coaching on Mental Health Outcomes in College Students

College students are vulnerable to diverse mental health disorders. We aimed to investigate whether a meditation class would be an effective means to address students’ mental health challenges. Among the college students who registered for the meditation course, 256 participants were enrolled. The meditation course was a 15-week program incorporating mindfulness meditation and Ganhwa Seon (a traditional Buddhist meditation). A questionnaire was administered twice, on the first and last class of the course, collecting information on personal characteristics and six mental health indicators. A paired t-test was used to examine whether the meditation course conferred benefit on the mental health indicators, and logistic regression analyses were run to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes. After completing the meditation course, there were significant improvements for the adult ADHD score $\left(p<0.01\right)$ and ego identity (p = 0.02) but not for the other outcomes. Among college students, meditation practice may have positive effects on the adult ADHD score and ego identity.

Sense of mastery among older adults and its relation to invalidating childhood experiences

ObjectivesSense of mastery, a well-recognized resource for older adults, has been shown to be related to early life experiences, especially parent-child interactions. Yet while there are indications that a reduced sense of mastery is related to early experiences of child maltreatment, this association has not been studied among older adults. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between experiences of childhood parental invalidation and sense of mastery among older adults, through the mediation of self-objectification and perceived disrupted body boundaries.Methods: Three-hundred-and-sixteen older adults (Mean = 72.24; SD = 8.12 years; range: 60-94) filled out a battery of questionnaires assessing their levels of exposure to childhood parental invalidation experiences, sense of self-objectification, disrupted body boundaries, and sense of masteryResults: A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis supported the hypothesized research model. More specifically, two significant indirect effects were observed, according to which the association between invalidating childhood experiences and sense of mastery was mediated by both self-objectification and by disrupted body boundaries.Conclusion: As these results suggest that early life experiences continue to affect individuals' sense of self in older age, they should be considered an important factor for evaluation and intervention.

The Relationship of Breathing and COVID-19 Anxiety When Using Smart Watches for Guided Respiration Practice: A Cross-Sectional Study

COVID-19 mortality rates are increasing worldwide, which has led to many highly restrictive precautionary measures and a strong sense of anxiety about the outbreak for many people around the world. There is thus an increasing concern about COVID-19 anxiety, resulting in recommending approaches for effective self-care. From a positive psychology perspective, it is also important for people to have positive affect when dealing with this pandemic. According to previous literature, respiration is considered to be an effective way to enhance people’s mental health. Among all the wearable devices, Apple Watch has the largest market share, so this study recruited Chinese users that use respiration exercise function on Apple Watch; a total of 316 valid data were retrieved. Meanwhile, to understand one approach related to using Apple Watch to practice respiration to reduce COVID-19 anxiety about being infected during the COVID-19 outbreak, this study used a web-based cross-sectional survey to examine anxiety about being infected by COVID-19 among Chinese people who had been using the Apple Watch to practice respiration during the period of the COVID-19 outbreak. The study was based on the Health Theoretical Model, and the model was developed with four dimensions and was validated with structural equation modeling. The results of this study showed that practicing few minutes had a positive relationship on positive attitude, and positive attitude had a negative relationship on pandemic anxiety and a positive relationship on continuance use intention. Anxiety about the pandemic had a negative relationship on the intention to continue using the function. This showed that respiration practice can help to suppress the increase in anxiety levels regarding this pandemic.

Implementing Mindfulness in General Life and Organizations. Validation of the Time Flow Mindfulness Questionnaire for Effective Health Management

The primary purpose of the current research was to examine the psychometric properties of the Time Flow Mindfulness Questionnaire (TFMQ), a new self-report scale designed to measure cognitive, emotional, bodily, context-related, and action-related distracting inputs experienced by the mind during three different time windows of mindfulness practice (preliminary moments, during-the-practice, after-the-practice). The 42-item scale assesses the following second-order and first-order factors: Practice (preliminary, during), Benefits (short-term, long-term) and Benefits at work. Three studies were conducted. The first study assessed the factor structure and internal consistency on a sample of 141 mindfulness practitioners. Using a two-wave lagged design on a different sample of 46 trainees attending mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) courses, the second study examined concurrent validity by performing correlations between the TFMQ and Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The third study (same sample as Study 1) examined criterion validity by testing a structural equation model wherein mindfulness practice predicts job burnout, both directly and indirectly through mindfulness benefits at work. All studies relied on anonymous surveys. Our findings suggest that the TFMQ: (a) has a factor structure consistent with the hypothesized conceptual dimensions; (b) has good concurrent validity as demonstrated by significant correlations with the FFMQ dimensions; and (c) consists of mindfulness dimensions that predict job burnout in organizations (i.e., criterion validity). The TFMQ is a valid and reliable mindfulness measure that may help (a) practitioners gain awareness of different types of inputs that potentially distract the mind and mindfulness beneficial consequences, and (b) organizations implement mindfulness in work-settings.

Dispositional mindfulness and self-referential neural activity during the resting state

Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to impact a broad range of outcomes including enhanced attention, memory, and self-regulation. Previously, mindfulness training has been negatively correlated with brain activity across the default mode network nodes following mindfulness-based practice. Currently, little research has been done to understand the neural basis of differences in mindfulness levels in untrained individuals. In this study, we explored the relationship between the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and fractional ALFF (fALFF) during the resting state and the level of dispositional mindfulness, which was measured by using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). The results showed that the total scores on the FFMQ were negatively correlated with the spontaneous activation of left premotor cortex. This indicates that individuals with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness might require less effort to control their irrelevant motor responses.

Expectations and experiences of practising veterinarians throughout an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction programme

AIMS

To explore practising veterinarians' expectations of an 8-week mindfulness training programme, their perceived barriers to participating in the programme, their experiences of the programme and the extent to which they continued to engage in mindfulness practices following training.

METHODS

Participants were 10 companion animal veterinarians practising in Auckland, New Zealand. All took part in an 8-week mindfulness-based training programme. A longitudinal qualitative design was used: data were collected by structured interviews prior to the programme, upon completion of the programme and 3 months after completion. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes, or patterns, within the data.

RESULTS

Before commencing the programme, participants generally thought mindfulness training would provide some benefits for wellbeing but were otherwise not clear on what to expect. The main concerns about taking part were time constraints and apprehensions about potentially having to share personal information, and consequently how they might be perceived by other participants. On completion of the training programme, the opportunity to share experiences within the group with the support of a trained facilitator was reported as the most valuable aspect of the programme, rather than the mindfulness practices themselves. At the 3-month follow-up, participants reported they had learnt some useful techniques for managing stressful thoughts and situations, but despite the perceived benefits, few were still practicing mindfulness techniques.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Training in mindfulness practices may have some value for helping practicing veterinarians manage their wellbeing, but it is not a complete solution in itself. Participants reported that the greatest benefits came from facilitated peer support.

Mindfulness meditation experiences of novice practitioners in an online intervention: Trajectories, predictors, and challenges

BACKGROUND

The benefits of mindfulness interventions are well-known, but their challenges and individual differences in reactions to these challenges are much less clear.

METHODS

The study used a mixed-methods design to investigate the individual trajectories of daily experiences during meditation in a sample of novice volunteers participating in a 3-week, distance-based, guided meditation intervention (N = 175).

RESULTS

Multilevel modelling revealed individual differences in the change trajectories of the experiences of effort, meaning, and boredom during meditation, indicating that meditation gradually became less effortful, less boring, more interesting, and more important over the 3 weeks. The individual differences in the levels of these experiences and their change trends were associated with baseline differences in well-being, reflective processes, self-management, and self-control skills, as well as autonomous motivation to engage in the course.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals who are initially more autonomous and mindful find it easier to engage with online mindfulness interventions and draw more benefits from the process, whereas those with lower self-regulation skills or higher proneness to rumination are more likely to experience mindfulness as effortful and boring, and, eventually, to give it up.

Photo-experiencing and reflective listening: A trauma-informed photo-elicitation method to explore day-to-day health experiences

Despite the promise of photography in research, few methods offer a guide to leverage this medium in conjunction with experience sampling to facilitate individual reflection while capturing the experiences of participants as they interact with their social world. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new photo-elicitation method to add to the photography research repertoire, Photo-experiencing and Reflective Listening (PEARL). PEARL leverages the benefits of experience sampling, mindful self-awareness, and trauma-informed interviewing to document daily health experiences. After engaging in an at-home photography activity, participants meet for a one-on-one interview to share and cluster their photographs to discuss key themes and needs going forward. Using a study aimed to understand the recovery experiences of survivors of sexual violence, we illustrate how PEARL can be applied to study a population of interest. The products developed through PEARL provide rich opportunities for analysis, dissemination, story amplification, and action, making it a research method helpful for those interested in improving health equity and catalyzing social change. Because of the high satisfaction voiced by the participants of this approach, PEARL shows promise as a therapeutic data collection method, where the participants leave with some benefit through new awareness gained.

Association between anhedonia and suicidal events in patients with mood disorders: A 3-year prospective study

BACKGROUND

As almost all mental disorders are associated with increased suicidal-related behavior, anhedonia might be a trans-diagnostic dimension to target for suicide prevention.

METHODS

For this 3-year-long prospective study, 2,839 outpatients with mood disorders were recruited. They were divided in: (a) two groups according to the occurrence or not of suicidal ideation during the follow-up, and (b) two groups according to the occurrence or not of suicide attempts during the follow-up. Anhedonia was assessed using a composite score (the French version of the 14-item Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale and item 13 of the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology scale) at inclusion and at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after inclusion.

RESULTS

Patients with mood disorders and anhedonia at least at one follow-up visit had a 1.4-fold higher risk of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 1.35; 95% confidence interval [1.07, 1.70]), even after adjustment for confounding factors of suicide risk (i.e., bipolar or unipolar disorder, sex, age, marital status, education level, antidepressant intake, personal history of suicide attempt, at least one childhood trauma, and mean of the maximum depression score during the follow-up). Conversely, association between anhedonia and suicide attempt did not remain significant after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant association between anhedonia and suicide ideation in patients with mood disorders stresses the need of targeting hedonia in mood disorders, and of research focusing on the position to pleasure in life through eudaimonia.

Being mindful does not always benefit everyone: mindfulness-based practices may promote alienation among psychologically vulnerable people

A growing number of interventions have sought to cultivate mindfulness, an accepting awareness of body and mind experiences. A great deal of prior research has shown mostly beneficial effects of mindfulness interventions. However, cultivating mindfulness may not always be beneficial for everyone. Two studies examined whether mindfulness may have alienating effects among people high in state orientation (i.e. low self-regulatory abilities). Participants were randomly assigned to either a 90-minute mindfulness training plus 5-minute retreatment or a waiting list control group (Study 1 N = 54, Study 2 N = 155). Alienation was operationalised as false self-ascriptions (FSA rate) of extrinsic goals that were allegedly recommended by experts. Participants high (versus low) in state orientation had significantly higher FSA rates in the mindfulness (versus control) condition. These results suggest that mindfulness training may alienate psychologically vulnerable populations (e.g. state-oriented people) from their intrinsic emotional preferences.

Improved Self-Esteem in Artists After Participating in the "Building Confidence and Self-Esteem Toolbox Workshop"

Performing and creative artists have unique occupational and lifestyle stresses and challenges that can negatively affect self-esteem. Low self-esteem not only has serious implications for their psychological and physical health, it can also affect their performance, and creativity. There is a need to establish effective interventions to deal with this issue. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reported studies specific to workshops or interventions on enhancing self-esteem for artists. The Al and Malka Green Artists' Health Centre at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a unique multidisciplinary, and integrative clinic serving the special needs of the artist population. We developed a workshop entitled “Building Confidence and Self Esteem Toolbox Workshop” to address this need. We then designed a single-blind, randomized, prospective, pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the workshop on enhancing self-esteem in artists, and to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of using the recommended tools in maintaining a healthy self-esteem, as well as maintaining physical and emotional health. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. A validated “Self-Esteem Checkup” questionnaire was administered pre- and immediately post workshop, as well as at 2, 6, and 12 months post workshop. Open-ended questions were posed to study participants via email at 2 and 12 months following the workshop, and at 6 months in in-person interviews. Thirty-five professional artists consented to participate in the study, with 26 completing all study visits. Mean scores for all time points, and the individual questionnaire statement mean scores for the five timepoints increased significantly post-workshop and remained statistically significantly improved by the 3rd follow-up 12 months later (p < 0.001). The mean self-esteem rating score increased significantly post-workshop and remained statistically significantly improved by the 3rd follow-up 12 months later (p < 0.01). Qualitative data showed positive feedback on the utilization of the tools learned in the workshop that helped maintain this improvement over a 1-year period. This workshop may be an effective means of addressing the issue of self-esteem in artists. Further controlled studies of larger sample size and longer duration are needed to confirm these findings.