19 research outputs found
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Compassion Meditation for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Nonrandomized Study.
Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that is intended to cultivate the ability to extend and sustain compassion toward self and others. Although research documents the benefits of CM in healthy populations, its use in the context of psychopathology is largely unexamined. The purpose of this study was to refine and initially evaluate a CM protocol, Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), for use with Veterans with PTSD. To this end, our research team developed and refined a manualized protocol, CBCT-Vet, over 4 sets of groups involving 36 Veterans. This protocol was delivered in 8-10 sessions, each lasting 90-120 min and led by a CBCT®-trained clinical psychologist. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to identify areas to be improved and to assess change that occurred during the treatment period. Based on pooled data from this series of groups, CM appears to be acceptable to Veterans with PTSD. Group participation was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD (partial eta squared = .27) and depression (partial eta squared = .19), but causality should not be inferred given the nonrandomized design. No change was observed in additional outcomes, including positive emotion and social connectedness. The results of this open trial support additional exploration of CM as part of the recovery process for Veterans with PTSD
Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT (R)) in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study
Breast cancer (BC) requires a significant psychological adaptation once treatment is finished. There is growing
evidence of how compassion training enhances psychological and physical well-being, however, there are very few studies
analyzing the efficacy of compassion-based Interventions on BC survivors. Objective. To study the efficacy of the CognitivelyBased Compassion Training (CBCT) protocol in a BC survivor sample on quality of life, psychological well-being, fear of
cancer recurrence, self-compassion, and compassion domains and mindfulness facets. Furthermore, enrollment, adherence,
and satisfaction with the intervention were also analyzed. Methods. A randomized clinical trial was designed. Participants
(n = 56) were randomly assigned to CBCT (n = 28) or a treatment-as-usual control group (TAU; n = 28). Pre-post
intervention and 6-month follow-up measures took place to evaluate health-related quality of life, psychological wellbeing; psychological stress, coping strategies, and triggering cognitions; self-compassion and compassion; and mindfulness
in both intervention and wait-list groups. Results. Accrual of eligible participants was high (77%), and the drop-out rate
was 16%. Attendance to CBCT sessions was high and practice off sessions exceeded expectations). CBCT was effective
in diminishing stress caused by FCR, fostering self-kindness and common humanity, and increasing overall self-compassion
scores, mindful observation, and acting with awareness skillsets. Conclusion. CBCT could be considered a promising and
potentially useful intervention to diminish stress caused by FCR and enhance self-kindness, common humanity, overall selfcompassion, mindful observation, and acting with awareness skillsets. Nevertheless, future randomized trials are needed
and a process of deeper cultural adaptation required
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Cognitively-Based Compassion Training versus cancer health education to improve health-related quality of life in survivors of solid tumor cancers and their informal caregivers: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial
Background: Cancer survivors and their informal caregivers (family members, close friends) often experience significant impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including disruptions in psychological, physical, social, and spiritual well-being both during and after primary cancer treatment. The purpose of this in-progress pilot trial is to determine acceptability and preliminary efficacy (as reflected by effect sizes) of CBCT (R) (Cognitively-Based Compassion Training) compared with a cancer health education (CHE) attention control to improve the primary outcome of depressive symptoms and secondary outcomes of other HRQOL domains (e.g., anxiety, fatigue), biomarkers of inflammation and diurnal cortisol rhythm, and healthcare utilization-related outcomes in both cancer survivors and informal caregivers. Methods: Forty dyads consisting of solid tumor survivors who have completed primary treatments (chemotherapy, radiation, surgery) and their informal caregivers, with at least one dyad member with mild depressive symptoms or anxiety, will be recruited from Tucson, Arizona, USA. Survivor-caregiver dyads will be randomized together to complete either CBCT or CHE. CBCT is a manualized, 8-week, group meditation-based intervention that starts with attention and mindfulness and builds to contemplative practices aimed at cultivating compassion to the self and others. The goal of CBCT is to challenge unexamined assumptions about feelings and behaviors, with a focus on generating spontaneous self-compassion and increased empathic responsiveness and compassion for others. CHE is an 8-week, manualized group intervention that provides cancer-specific education on various topics (e.g., cancer advocacy, survivorship wellness). Patient-reported HRQOL outcomes will be assessed before, immediately after (week 9), and 1month after CBCT or CHE (week 13). At the same time points, stress-related biomarkers of inflammation (e.g., plasma interleukin-6) and saliva cortisol relevant for survivor and informal caregiver wellness and healthcare utilization will be measured. Discussion: If CBCT shows acceptability, a larger trial will be warranted and appropriately powered to formally test the efficacy of this dyadic intervention. Interventions such as CBCT directed toward both survivors and caregivers may eventually fill a gap in supportive oncology care programs to improve HRQOL and healthcare utilization in both dyad members. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03459781. Prospectively registered on 9 March 2018.The Jack Challem Trust [001]Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
The neural mediators of kindness-based meditation: a theoretical model
Although kindness-based contemplative practices are increasingly employed by clinicians and cognitive researchers to enhance prosocial emotions, social cognitive skills, and well-being, and as a tool to understand the basic workings of the social mind, we lack a coherent theoretical model with which to test the mechanisms by which kindness-based meditation may alter the brain and body. Here we link contemplative accounts of compassion and loving-kindness practices with research from social cognitive neuroscience and social psychology to generate predictions about how diverse practices may alter brain structure and function and related aspects of social cognition. Contingent on the nuances of the practice, kindness-based meditation may enhance the neural systems related to faster and more basic perceptual or motor simulation processes, simulation of another’s affective body state, slower and higher-level perspective-taking, modulatory processes such as emotion regulation and self/other discrimination, and combinations thereof. This theoretical model will be discussed alongside best practices for testing such a model and potential implications and applications of future work
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Compassion Meditation for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): a Nonrandomized Study.
Compassion meditation (CM) is a contemplative practice that is intended to cultivate the ability to extend and sustain compassion toward self and others. Although research documents the benefits of CM in healthy populations, its use in the context of psychopathology is largely unexamined. The purpose of this study was to refine and initially evaluate a CM protocol, Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT®), for use with Veterans with PTSD. To this end, our research team developed and refined a manualized protocol, CBCT-Vet, over 4 sets of groups involving 36 Veterans. This protocol was delivered in 8-10 sessions, each lasting 90-120 min and led by a CBCT®-trained clinical psychologist. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to identify areas to be improved and to assess change that occurred during the treatment period. Based on pooled data from this series of groups, CM appears to be acceptable to Veterans with PTSD. Group participation was associated with reduced symptoms of PTSD (partial eta squared = .27) and depression (partial eta squared = .19), but causality should not be inferred given the nonrandomized design. No change was observed in additional outcomes, including positive emotion and social connectedness. The results of this open trial support additional exploration of CM as part of the recovery process for Veterans with PTSD
Efeitos do Treinamento Cognitivo de CompaixĂŁo na quebrada: estudo misto
Objective: to analyze the effects of Cognitively Based CompassionTraining (CBCT®) among people in situations of social vulnerability.Method: a mixed, sequential and transformative study with the sameQUAL→QUAN weight. Focus Groups were applied at the beginning(n=24) and three months (n=11) after CBCT®, to understand theparticipants’ knowledge about emotions, (self)care and stresssituations. Content analysis was performed in the WebQDA software.The participants (n=65) were randomized into control (n=31) andintervention (n=34) to assess self-compassion, perceived stress,and positive and negative affects at three time moments. The mixedfactorial ANOVA analysis considered within-participants (time) andbetween-participants (place and group) factors. Results: meanage (37), female gender (88%), single (51%) and black-skinnedpeople (77%). The following thematic categories emerged before thecourse: “Reducing others’ suffering as a bridge to conscious self-care”and “Social vulnerability as a potentiator of low emotional literacy”.Subsequently, self-compassion and awareness of the mental statesfor social activism. The quantitative analysis showed a significantincrease in self-compassion within-participants (p=0.003); groupfactor (p<0.001); perceived stress reduction (p=0.013); negativeaffects group factor (p=0.005); and increase in positive affects(p<0.001) within-participants. Conclusion: CBCT®️ exerted a positiveeffect on individual well-being and a positive impact on communityengagement to promote social well-being in the outskirts. BrazilianRegistry of Clinical Trials (RBR-3w744z.) in April 2019.Objetivo: analizar los efectos del Entrenamiento en CompasiĂłnCognitiva (CBCT®) en personas en situaciĂłn de vulnerabilidadsocial. MĂ©todo: estudio mixto del tipo transformativo secuencialcon el mismo peso QUAL→QUAN. Grupos Focales aplicados al inicio(n=24) y tres meses (n=11) despuĂ©s del CBCT®, para comprenderel conocimiento que tienen los participantes sobre emociones, (auto)cuidado y situaciones de estrĂ©s. El análisis de contenido utilizĂł elsoftware WebQDA. Los participantes (n=65) fueron aleatorizadosen el grupo control (n=31) y experimental (n=34) para evaluarla autocompasiĂłn, el estrĂ©s percibido y los afectos positivos ynegativos en tres momentos. El ANOVA factorial mixto considerĂłfactor de participantes (tiempo) y entre participantes (lugar y grupo).Resultados: edad promedio (37), sexo femenino (88%), solteras(51%) y negras (77%). Las categorĂas temáticas que surgieronantes del curso fueron: “ReducciĂłn del sufrimiento de los demáscomo puente para el autocuidado consciente” y “La vulnerabilidadsocial como potenciadora de la baja alfabetizaciĂłn emocional”.Luego la autocompasiĂłn y la conciencia de los estados mentalespara el activismo social. El análisis cuantitativo mostrĂł un aumentosignificativo en la autocompasiĂłn de los participantes (p=0,003);factor grupo (p< 0,001); reducciĂłn del estrĂ©s percibido (p=0,013);afectos negativos factor grupo (p= 0,005); y aumento de los afectospositivos (p< 001) de los participantes. ConclusiĂłn: El CBCT®️ tuvo unefecto positivo en el bienestar individual y tuvo un impacto positivo enla participaciĂłn de la comunidad para promover el bienestar social enla poblaciĂłn de los barrios perifĂ©ricos. Registro Brasileño de EnsayosClĂnicos (RBR-3w744z.) en abril de 2019.Objetivo: analisar os efeitos do Treinamento Cognitivo de CompaixĂŁo(CBCT®) entre pessoas em situação de vulnerabilidade social.MĂ©todo: estudo misto tipo transformativo sequencial com mesmopeso QUAL→QUAN. Grupos Focais aplicados no inĂcio (n=24) e trĂŞsmeses (n=11) apĂłs o CBCT®, para compreender o conhecimentodos participantes sobre emoções, (auto)cuidado e situações deestresse. A análise de conteĂşdo utilizou o software WebQDA®. Osparticipantes (n=65) foram randomizados em controle (n=31) eintervenção (n=34), para avaliação de autocompaixĂŁo, estressepercebido e afetos positivos e negativos em trĂŞs tempos. A ANOVAfatorial mista considerou fator dentre-participantes (tempo) e entreparticipantes(local e grupo). Resultados: idade mĂ©dia (37), sexofeminino (88%), solteiras (51%) e pessoas negras (77%). Emergiram,antes do curso, as categorias temáticas: “Redução do sofrimentoalheio como ponte para o autocuidado consciente” e “Vulnerabilidadesocial como potencializadora do baixo letramento emocional”. Emseguida, autocompaixĂŁo e consciĂŞncia dos estados mentais parao ativismo social. A análise quantitativa demonstrou aumentosignificativo de autocompaixĂŁo dentre-participantes (p= 0,003); fatorgrupo (p< 0,001); redução do estresse percebido (p= 0,013); afetosnegativos fator grupo (p= 0,005); e aumento dos afetos positivos(p< 001) dentre-participantes. ConclusĂŁo: o CBCT®️ teve efeitopositivo sobre o bem-estar individual e promoveu impacto positivono engajamento comunitário para a promoção do bem-estar socialna quebrada. Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios ClĂnicos (RBR-3w744z.)em abril de 2019
Building Resilience and Social–Emotional Competencies in Elementary School Students through a Short-Term Intervention Program Based on the SEE Learning Curriculum
This study explored the positive effects of a six-week Social–Emotional and Ethical Learning® (SEE Learning) program on resilience and social and emotional competences, adapted for elementary students in Daegu, South Korea, a region strongly affected by the first outbreak of COVID-19. A total of 348 third- and fourth-grade students from 15 elementary schools participated, and the curriculum was tailored, emphasizing key areas such as resilience, attention, kindness, attention training, and compassion. Repeated measures analysis of variance (RMANOVA) tests showed statistically significant improvements between pre- and post-tests in resilience and its subscales, including self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, positive support relations, power of control, and spontaneity, as well as in social and emotional competencies, including emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendencies. Despite a lack of maintenance in all areas, at follow-up, the mean scores for self-efficacy, tolerance of negative affect, and positive support relations, as well as emotional regulation, social skills, empathy, and social tendency, remained higher than pre-test levels, suggesting some lasting benefits. The findings underscore the potential of the SEE Learning program integrated with resilience, mindfulness, compassion, and ethical practices to enhance students’ resilience and social and emotional well-being. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness and compassion-based SEL programs to mitigate the adverse effects of traumatic events on children’s mental health