A study about the neuropsychological effects of a mindfulness intervention on university students

Objective: to investigate the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on the neuropsychological functions of healthy university students, and to investigate possible correlations between the levels of mindfulness, impulsivity, and cognitive measures. Methods: two studies were made. The baseline study had 84 students and investigated the correlations between the levels of mindfulness, impulsivity and cognitive measures without any interventions. The controlled and randomized study counted with 51 participants, divided between mindfulness intervention group and control group. The effects of the mindfulness intervention were investigated on the neuropsychological functions. Results: there were strong negative correlations between the levels of mindfulness and impulsivity on the baseline study, and important associations between the mindfulness intervention and better cognitive results on the controlled and randomized study. Conclusion: there are strong correlation evidences between the mindfulness and impulsivity constructs, and evidence of cognitive benefits associated with the mindfulness intervention.Objetivo: investigar os efeitos de uma intervenção baseadas em mindfulness nas funções neuropsicológicas de estudantes universitários saudáveis e correlacionar níveis de mindfulness, impulsividade e medidas cognitivas. Métodos: foram feitos dois estudos, baseline, no qual foram realizadas correlações entre as variáveis de mindfulness, impulsividade e medidas neuropsicológicas de 84 participantes sem terem sofrido nenhuma intervenção, e ensaio controlado e randomizado, no qual 51 participantes foram divididos aleatoriamente em um grupo de intervenção de mindfulness e um grupo controle passivo, e foram investigados efeitos da intervenção nas medidas neuropsicológicas. Resultados: fortes correlações entre níveis de mindfulness e impulsividade foram encontradas no estudo baseline, e foram encontradas associações importantes entre melhoras nas medidas cognitivas (atenção e memória) e a intervenção direta de mindfulness, sem serem intermediadas por outras variáveis. Conclusão: há evidências de forte correlação entre os constructos de mindfulness e impulsividade, e evidências de benefícios cognitivos associados a intervenção de mindfulness

Mindfulness training improves quality of life and reduces depression and anxiety symptoms among police officers : results from the POLICE study : a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Background: Police officers’ high-stress levels and its deleterious consequences are raising awareness to an epidemic of mental health problems and quality of life (QoL) impairment. There is a growing evidence that mindfulness-based interventions are efficacious to promote mental health and well-being among high-stress occupations. Methods: The POLICE study is amulticenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three assessment points (baseline, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up) where police officers were randomized to mindfulness-based health promotion (MBHP) (n = 88) or a waiting list (n = 82). This article focuses on QoL, depression and anxiety symptoms, and religiosity outcomes. Mechanisms of change and MBHP feasibility were evaluated. Results: Significant group × time interaction was found for QoL, depression and anxiety symptoms, and non-organizational religiosity. Between-group analysis showed that MBHP group exhibited greater improvements in QoL, and depression and anxiety symptoms at both post-intervention (QoL d = 0.69 to 1.01; depression d = 0.97; anxiety d = 0.73) and 6-month follow-up (QoL d = 0.41 to 0.74; depression d = 0.60; anxiety d = 0.51), in addition to increasing non-organizational religiosity at post-intervention (d = 0.31). Changes on self-compassion mediated the relationship between group and pre-to-post changes for all QoL domains and facets. Group effect on QoL overall health facet at post-intervention was moderated by mindfulness trait and spirituality changes. Conclusion: MBHP is feasible and efficacious to improve QoL, and depression and anxiety symptoms among Brazilian officers. Results were maintained after 6 months. MBHP increased non-organizational religiosity, although the effect was not sustained 6 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first mindfulness-based intervention RCT to empirically demonstrate these effects among police officers. Self-compassion, mindfulness trait, and spirituality mechanisms of change are examined

Study protocol of a multicenter randomized controlled trial of mindfulness training to reduce burnout and promote quality of life in police officers: the POLICE study

Abstract Background Police officers experience a high degree of chronic stress. Policing ranks among the highest professions in terms of disease and accident rates. Mental health is particularly impacted, evidenced by elevated rates of burnout, anxiety and depression, and poorer quality of life than the general public. Mindfulness training has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, burnout and promote quality of life in a variety of settings, although its efficacy in this context has yet to be systematically evaluated. Therefore, this trial will investigate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention versus a waitlist control in improving quality of life and reducing negative mental health symptoms in police officers. Methods This multicenter randomized controlled trial has three assessment points: baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Active police officers (n = 160) will be randomized to Mindfulness-Based Health Promotion (MBHP) or waitlist control group at two Brazilian major cities: Porto Alegre and São Paulo. The primary outcomes are burnout symptoms and quality of life. Consistent with the MBHP conceptual model, assessed secondary outcomes include perceived stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, and the potential mechanisms of resilience, mindfulness, decentering, self-compassion, spirituality, and religiosity. Discussion Findings from this study will inform and guide future research, practice, and policy regarding police offer health and quality of life in Brazil and globally. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03114605. Retrospectively registered on March 21, 2017