Four days of mindfulness meditation training for graduate students: A pilot study examining effects on mindfulness, self-regulation, and executive function

Self-regulation facilitates coping with academic stress and demands. This pilot study examined the effects of four consecutive mindfulness meditation classes on self-regulation and executive function in graduate students. Self-report measures of mindfulness, self-regulation, and executive functions were completed before and after the mindfulness classes. Paired t-tests compared pre-post training scores and effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. A sample of 8 psychology graduate students (7 female) volunteered to participate in the mindfulness training. The group classes were modeled after meditation practices in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Each class involved a specific theme: (1) Stepping Out of Automatic Pilot, (2) Awareness of the Breath, Body, Sounds, and Thoughts, (3) Mindful Movement, and (4) Working with Difficulty. Students significantly improved in mindfulness and self-regulation skills. Large effects were obtained for increases in total mindfulness, and the mindfulness facets of acting with awareness and non-reactivity to inner experiences. Additionally, large effects were calculated for total self-regulation and the self-regulatory facet of self-reinforcement. The current pilot study provides preliminary support for cultivating mindfulness skills and enhancing self-regulatory capacity in graduate students through four consecutive days of mindfulness training

The effects of callosal low-frequency stimulation on hippocampal kindling and neocortical motor maps

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The efficacy of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy to improve depression symptoms and quality of life in individuals with memory difficulties and caregivers: A short report

Abstract Introduction Depression symptoms are common for older adults with memory difficulties and their caregivers. Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces the risk of relapse in recurrent depression and improves depression symptoms. We explored recruitment and retention success and preliminary effect sizes of MBCT on depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as mindfulness facets, in individuals with memory difficulties and their caregivers. Methods A difficulty with memory group (DG) and caregiver group (CG) were randomized into either the MBCT intervention or waitlist control. After serving as controls, participants received the intervention. Mean pre–post changes by group were compared and effect sizes computed. Correlations between mindfulness facets and depression symptoms are also presented. Results Only 47% of the initial participants completed the study. The intervention did not have an effect on the outcome variables examined. However, improvements in non‐judgmental scores were associated with reductions in the number of depression symptoms reported by DG participants (r = –0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.98, –0.52) and CG participants (r = –0.76, 95% CI: –0.95, –0.19). Furthermore, improvements in awareness scores (r = –0.69, 95% CI: –0.93, –0.05) and level of burden (r = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.97) also significantly correlated with reduced depression symptoms in the CG group. Conclusions By determining preliminary MBCT effect sizes in individuals with memory difficulties and their caregivers, research with larger, controlled samples is now justified to determine the true effects of MBCT in these populations

The Position Of The Polycystic Kidney Disease 1 (Pkd1) Gene Mutation Correlates With The Severity Of Renal Disease

The severity of renal cystic disease in the major form of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD1) is highly variable. Clinical data was analyzed from 324 mutation-characterized PKD1 patients (80 families) to document factors associated with the renal outcome. The mean age to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was 54 yr. with no significant difference between men and women and no association with the angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphism. Considerable intrafamilial variability was observed, reflecting the influences of genetic modifiers and environmental factors, However, significant differences in outcome were also found among families, with rare examples of unusually late-onset PKD1. Possible phenotype/genotype correlations were evaluated by estimating the effects of covariants on the time to ESRD using proportional hazards models. In the total population, the location of the mutation (in relation to the median position; nucleotide 7812), but not the type, was associated with the age at onset of ESRD. Patients with mutations in the 5' region had significantly more severe disease than the 3' group: median time to ESRD was 53 and 56 yr, respectively (P = 0.025), with less than half the chance of adequate renal function at 60 yr (18.9% and 39.7%, respectively). This study has shown that the position of the PKD1 mutation is significantly associated with earlier ESRD and questions whether PKD1 mutations simply inactivate all products of the gene.Wo

Proceedings Of The 23Rd Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part Two

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