Intervenções baseadas em mindfulness em mulheres reclusas: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

A terceira geração das Terapias Cognitiva-Comportamentais, a qual é caracterizada pela abordagem terapêutica baseada na aceitação e mindfulness, tem contribuído para o tratamento da população em diversos contextos. Estudos científicos têm demonstrado a sua eficácia no contexto prisional, contudo os efeitos psicológicos na população reclusa feminina ainda são pouco claros. Assim, com o presente estudo, pretendeu-se conhecer a eficácia das Intervenções Baseadas em Mindfulness (MBIs) na saúde mental de mulheres reclusas. Através de uma Revisão Sistemática de literatura, realizou-se o apuramento e a identificação de estudos relevantes para a problemática, com recurso a quatro bases de dados, nomeadamente MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus e Web of Science. Identificaram-se quatrocentos e trinta e quatro artigos para triagem que, após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, culminou com uma amostra final de vinte artigos. No geral, a análise dos vinte artigos aponta para a eficácia das MBIs na melhoria da saúde mental de mulheres reclusas. Os efeitos psicológicos mais comuns são a redução do stresse, da ansiedade, da depressão e de problemas de comportamento, nomeadamente a impulsividade/agressividade. Considerações sobre as implicações para a prática, políticas e futuras investigações são ainda discutidas no presente estudo, uma vez que a implementação de MBIs no contexto prisional sugere medidas de prevenção/intervenção vantajosas em termos de custo/eficácia para o combate ao drástico crescimento do encarceramento da população feminina.The third generation of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies, which is characterized by a therapeutic approach based on acceptance and mindfulness, has contributed to the treatment of the population in several contexts. Scientific studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in the prison context, however the psychological effects on incarcerated females are still unclear. Thereby, the present study aimed to understand the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) in the mental health of female prisoners. This Systematic Literature Review involved a comprehensive search within the MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies which could answer the research question. Four hundred and thirty four articles were identified but only twenty studies met the eligibility criteria. Overall, the results of the present study suggest the efficacy of MBIs in improving female prisoners’ mental health. The most common psychological effects found were reduction of stress, anxiety, depression and behavior problems, such as impulsiveness/aggressiveness. Considerations about the implications for practice, policy and future research are further discussed in the present paper, as MBIs appear to be a cost-effective prevention/intervention strategy to fight the incarceration rate of women

A Dialogical Narrative Analysis of Voice-Hearers and Emotions

This thesis is the result of a process of Dialogical Narrative Analysis with twelve participants who hear voices that other people cannot hear. It uses the socio-narratology of Arthur Frank to examine their stories about their experiences in the context of the complex and conceptually contested fields of knowledge that are considered relevant to voice-hearing. The 12 voice-hearers present a wide range of ideas and explanatory frameworks about their experiences. Emotions are deliberately part of this thesis and many stories are as moving as they are complex. The author’s own experiences of these stories is also acknowledged and explored. Whereas much research about hearing voices is biological, psychological or occasionally sociological, this research has many aspects of political exploration and the field is understood as one of conflicting vested interests and ideologies. Many ethical considerations come to light, especially concerning forms of power and knowledge within mental health professions and services in the UK, but also within the Hearing Voices Movement, which is seen as a vital movement with a variety of possible histories. One possibility suggested by this research is that voice-hearers are able to tolerate, and benefit from, more dialogical approaches and that those that do may find more successful ways to live with their experiences than those who are subject to the strongly monological emplotments of much professionalised knowledge. Another strong theme is the great influence of neoliberal politics over individuals and notions of ‘health’