Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on neuropeptide Y plasma levels in stressed individuals.

Background: Clinical studies have suggested that dysregulation of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) system may play a role in psychiatric disorders, including chronic stress. Meanwhile, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has shown promise for stress-related maladies. However, no studies have explored whether MBSR can change plasma NPY concentration in stressed individuals.

Clinician Experiences With Integrative Group Medical Visits for Chronic Pain.

Background: The well-being of healthcare teams is an important consideration when seeking to improve patient experience and quality of care. Prior studies have found that changes to working conditions are most effective in improving clinician well-being. Integrative Group Medical Visits (IGMVs) modify working conditions in ways that have potential to improve clinician experience.

Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study.

Background: While structured compassion training programs have shown promise for increasing compassion among medical trainees, a major challenge is applying the concepts and practices taught during the program into the complex, dynamic, time-pressured, and often hectic hospital workplace.

Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of Compassion Coach, a mobile health (mHealth) smartphone app designed to bolster a 6-week mindfulness and self-compassion training program for medical trainees.

Methods: In Compassion Coach, notifications to remind, encourage, and measure the perceived impact of informal mindfulness and compassion practices taught during the program were delivered at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM, respectively, 3 times per week over the course of the training program.

Mindfulness and trial-based cognitive therapy for the psychological well-being in the judiciary: A controlled and randomized study protocol.

Introduction: The judiciary sector faces high absenteeism due to mental health issues, yet applying effective therapies like mindfulness and trial-based cognitive therapy (TBCT) remains unexplored.

Objectives: Develop and apply Mindfulness-Integrated Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy (M-TBCT) in the judiciary to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy in enhancing psychological well-being and reducing depression, anxiety, and improving self-care.

Methods: Conduct a controlled, randomized study in two phases: Phase 1 involves a pilot study to structure the M-TBCT protocol and test its acceptability and feasibility in the judiciary ( = 30); Phase 2, an efficacy trial with 90 participants, comparing M-TBCT to a waitlist.

BDNF methylation associated with stress in women: Novel insights in epigenetics and inflammation.

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene plays an important role in modulating the stress-response axis and inflammation, which can be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. BNDF methylation has been associated with stress-related psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Previous studies have reported that stressful events are involved with long-lasting alterations in DNA methylation (DNAm) of the BNDF exon IV promoter, suggesting that glucocorticoids and inflammatory cytokines can regulate this process.

Effects of a mindfulness-based health promotion program on mindfulness, psychological capital, compassion fatigue, and affect in healthcare workers.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion program on mindfulness, psychological capital, compassion fatigue, and affect in a sample of healthcare workers at a hospital in Colombia.

Method: Randomized controlled study with pre-test and post-test measures, in which 33 workers participated (Mage = 35.01, SD = 10.

ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide consortium for neuroscientific investigations of meditation practices.

Meditation is a family of ancient and contemporary contemplative mind-body practices that can modulate psychological processes, awareness, and mental states. Over the last 40 years, clinical science has manualised meditation practices and designed various meditation interventions (MIs), that have shown therapeutic efficacy for disorders including depression, pain, addiction, and anxiety. Over the past decade, neuroimaging has examined the neuroscientific basis of meditation practices, effects, states, and outcomes for clinical and non-clinical populations.

Mindfulness and compassion-based programs on eating behavior of post-bariatric surgery patients: A two phased clinical trial protocol.

Introduction: Weight regain after bariatric surgery remains a relevant and worrisome topic, requiring greater understanding and involvement in research into new adjuvant treatments. This study aims to compare the preliminary effectiveness and feasibility of the Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion and Attachment-Based Compassion Therapy programs as opposed to usual treatments (workshops) on the eating behavior of patients with progressive weight gain after bariatric surgery in Brazilian patients at a private clinic. It was hypothesized that both interventions are feasible and that the self-compassion program may be more effective than the mindfulness program.

Improving patient-centered mental health promotion in primary care in vulnerable communities through mindfulness training in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Introduction: Brazilian Primary Health Care (PHC) is responsible for all-sanitary actions for a community-based population, including health promotion and mental health care. Mindfulness Based Health Promotion (MBHP) is an intervention that can promote self-care and psychosocial support in PHC.

Objective: To discuss the effects of mindfulness based psychosocial group interventions for health promotion in primary care units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Association of COVID-19 vaccination and anxiety symptoms: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort longitudinal study.

Objective: Symptoms of anxiety increased early in the COVID-19 pandemic among people with systemic sclerosis (SSc) then returned to pre-pandemic levels, but this was an aggregate finding and did not evaluate whether vaccination may have contributed to reduced anxiety symptom levels. We investigated whether being vaccinated for COVID-19 was associated with reduced anxiety symptoms among people with SSc.

Methods: The longitudinal Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) COVID-19 Cohort was launched in April 2020 and included participants from the ongoing SPIN Cohort and external enrollees.

Online group-based internal family systems treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: Feasibility and acceptability of the program for alleviating and resolving trauma and stress.

Objective: Demand for trauma-focused therapy continues to increase, especially in community mental health care settings where group treatment models can be cost-effective and increase access to care. The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may offer an effective therapeutic approach. The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, trauma-focused, group-based treatment approach and investigate potential mechanisms of action.

Physical activity during COVID-19 in people with systemic sclerosis: A Scleroderma Patient-centred Intervention Network COVID-19 Cohort longitudinal study.

Introduction/objective: People with systemic sclerosis (SSc) face barriers to physical activity. Few studies have described physical activity in SSc, and none have explored physical activity longitudinally during COVID-19. We evaluated physical activity from April 2020 to March 2022 among people with SSc.

A mindful approach to complications: Brief review of the literature and practical guide for the surgeon.

Patient complications and adverse outcomes are inherent to surgical practice and training. In addition to the impact on patients, there are profound and well-documented impacts of complications on surgeons, surgical trainees, and surgical teams. This manuscript reviews the literature regarding mindfulness-based practices and the associated mitigation of the adverse impact of complications.

Predicting which intervention works better for whom: Moderators of treatment effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Positive Psychology Intervention in patients with bipolar disorder.

Background: This study aimed to identify moderators of treatment effect (i.e. depressive symptoms and well-being) of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Positive Psychology Intervention (PPI) in patients with bipolar disorder.

Race-Based Differences in the Response to a Mindfulness Based Integrative Medical Group Visit Intervention for Chronic Pain.

Background: Chronic pain is one of the most common drivers of healthcare utilization and a marked domain for health disparities, as African American/Black populations experience high rates of chronic pain. Integrative Medical Group Visits (IMGV) combine mindfulness techniques, evidence-based integrative medicine, and medical group visits. In a parent randomized controlled trial, this approach was tested as an adjunct treatment in a diverse, medically underserved population with chronic pain and depression.

Factors affecting implementation of mindfulness in hospital settings: A qualitative meta-synthesis of healthcare professionals' experiences.

Background: Researchers have found that mindfulness-based interventions can reduce stress and improve mental health in healthcare professionals, as well as support relationship building, communication, and compassionate care. However, few researchers have systematically examined what determines successful implementation in hospital settings, which is essential for integrating research in clinical practice.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to synthesize qualitative data regarding healthcare professionals' experiences of factors affecting implementation of mindfulness in hospital settings and outline recommendations for clinical practice.

Systemized approach to equipping medical students with naloxone: a student-driven initiative to combat the opioid crisis.

Background: Naloxone is an effective and safe opioid reversal medication now approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with or without a prescription.

Effects of live-online, group mindfulness training on opioid use and anxiety during buprenorphine treatment: A comparative effectiveness RCT.

Background: Office-based opioid treatment with buprenorphine has emerged as a popular evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder. Unfortunately, psychosocial stress, anxiety, pain, and co-morbid substance use increase patients' risk for relapse. We designed this study to compare the effects of complementing buprenorphine treatment with 24 weeks of a live-online Mindful Recovery Opioid Care Continuum (M-ROCC) group to a time and attention-matched, live-online Recovery Support Group (RSG) active control condition.

Randomized controlled trial of an individual blended cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce psychological distress among distressed colorectal cancer survivors: The COloRectal canceR distrEss reduCTion trial.

Objective: Colorectal cancer survivors (CRCS) often experience high levels of distress. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effect of blended cognitive behavior therapy (bCBT) on distress severity among distressed CRCS.

Methods: CRCS (targeted N = 160) with high distress (Distress Thermometer ≥5) between 6 months and 5 years post cancer treatment were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to receive bCBT, (14 weeks including five face-to-face, and three telephone sessions and access to interactive website), or care as usual (CAU).

When a pandemic and epidemic collide: Lessons learned about how system barriers can interrupt implementation of addiction research.

Background: Telehealth technologies are now featured more prominently in addiction treatment services than prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but system barriers should be carefully considered for the successful implementation of innovative remote solutions for medication management and recovery coaching support for people with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Method: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded a telehealth trial prior to the COVID-19 pandemic with a multi-institution team who attempted to implement an innovative protocol during the height of the pandemic in 2020 in Tampa, Florida. The study evaluated the effectiveness of a mobile device application, called , which integrated remote motivational recovery coaching with daily supervised dosing from secure pill dispensers via videoconference, on medication adherence during buprenorphine treatment.

Development of the internal family systems model: Honoring contributions from family systems therapies.

We describe Richard Schwartz's development of the Internal Family Systems model (IFS) from his position as a Structural/Strategic family therapist. Four decades ago, Schwartz struggled to help clients who exhibited serious risk of harm to self and others. Through a process of inquiry, he began to work with the positive intentions behind his most challenging clients' harmful thoughts and behaviors.

Adapted Mindfulness Training for Interoception and Adherence to the DASH Diet: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Hypertension is a major cause of cardiovascular disease, and although the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet lowers blood pressure (BP), adherence is typically low. Mindfulness training adapted to improving health behaviors that lower BP could improve DASH adherence, in part through improved interoceptive awareness relevant to dietary consumption.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program on interoceptive awareness and DASH adherence.