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Feasibility of mindfulness-based therapy in patients recovering from a first psychotic episode: a pilot study.

Early intervention in psychiatry
February 1, 2013
Renate van der Valk et al. (5 authors)
Clinical TrialJournal ArticleHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to examine the feasibility, adverse effects, and potential benefits of mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) in individuals recovering from a first episode of psychosis.

Results Summary

The study found no significant increase in psychotic symptoms, a decrease in agoraphobic symptoms and psychoneuroticism, but no increase in mindfulness levels. One participant experienced increased distress due to misunderstanding instructions.

Population

Individuals recently recovering from a first episode of psychosis.

Effective Dosage

Eight 1-hour sessions within a 4-week time span.

Duration

4 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
no change
psychotic symptoms
people recently recovering from a first episode of psychosis
no significant change
No significant increase
#1
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
increase
distress
one participant
-
led to an increase
#2
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
no change
intrusive thoughts or visual or auditory hallucinations
participants
-
No increased awareness
#3
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
decrease
agoraphobic symptoms
people recently recovering from a first episode of psychosis
p < 0.028
found a decrease
#4
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
decrease
psychoneuroticism
people recently recovering from a first episode of psychosis
P < 0.025
found a decrease
#5
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
no change
psychotic symptoms
patients in this small pilot study
no significant change
had no significant adverse effect
#6
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
no change
level of mindfulness
the participants
-
neither did it raise
#7
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
decrease
psychological symptoms
-
-
A decrease
#8
mindfulness-based therapy (MBT)
increase
symptoms of distress
one patient
-
experienced an increase
#9
Abstract

AIM: Recently, a mindfulness therapy for people with psychotic disorders was developed. However, clinicians and researchers are cautious given case reports in which extensive meditation provoked psychotic symptoms in people with a psychotic disorder. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility, adverse effects and possible favourable effects of mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) in people recently recovering from a first episode of psychosis. METHOD: A nonrandomized, non-controlled prospective follow-up study. Patients were offered an MBT that consisted of eight 1-hour sessions within a 4-week time span. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Symptoms Checklist 90 and the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire were assessed before and after the therapy. RESULTS: Of the 16 persons who started MBT, 13 completed (81.5%) the therapy. No significant increase in psychotic symptoms was found. Between two meetings, one participant initially misunderstood the mindfulness instructions, which led to an increase in distress. No increased awareness of intrusive thoughts or visual or auditory hallucinations was reported by participants. We found a decrease in agoraphobic symptoms (p < 0.028) and in psychoneuroticism (P < 0.025). CONCLUSION: The MBT had no significant adverse effect on psychotic symptoms in patients in this small pilot study, neither did it raise the level of mindfulness in the participants. A decrease in psychological symptoms was found, although one patient experienced an increase in symptoms of distress. Our study demonstrates that therapists should be cautious that therapy and practice instructions are understood properly. Future studies are feasible and needed, in larger samples with an RCT design, in order to draw conclusions regarding the effects of the MBT.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultCognitive Behavioral TherapyFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMeditationPilot ProjectsPsychiatric Status Rating ScalesPsychotherapy, GroupPsychotic Disorders
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy65/10
Quality60/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations28
Citations/Year2.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.22
NIH Percentile57.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.32
Normalized Score0.72
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