Differential Effect of Four Mindfulness Exercises

University Hospital Miguel Servet

Status: Completed

Conditions: Well-being; Depression; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: Control group relaxation techniques; Behavioral: Loving-kindness meditation; Behavioral: Body scan; Behavioral: Sitting practice

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02191553

PI13/0129

Details and patient eligibility

About

Mindfulness can be considered as a family of complex attentional and emotional regulation strategies that promote the cultivation of well-being and emotional balance. The practice of mindfulness produces the development of a consciousness that unfolds moment to moment, open and unprejudiced in the present moment, here and now. Despite its extensive benefits, the practice of mindfulness requires a significant commitment in time and effort, which limits the potential for its dissemination. The studies to narrow the differential effects of the various exercises based on mindfulness, will further enhance their effectiveness and they can guide the practice sequence according to user needs. In this paper we will research mindfulness electroencephalographic correlates of as four different exercise programs included in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and stress reduction program based on mindfulness (MBSR) as well as its effect on several psychological variables.

Full description

Mindfulness is a way of using attention intentionally, repeatedly reactivating the attentional focus, so that it enhances the ability of sustained attention. It involves a complex process of self-regulation and inhibition of internal and external stimuli interferences.

Although the overall effects of meditation on brain bioelectrical signals are still being characterized, there is some consensus on the fact that meditation helps alter brain activity in both state and trait.

The specific aim of this study is to assess the differential effect of four different practices of mindfulness in psychological well-being and their corresponding neurophysiological correlates.

The hypothesis is that different exercises within the range of mindfulness practices exert different effects in terms of electroencephalographic activity, expecting different band increases in alpha (activity 7-to 2 Hz), beta (activity more than 13 Hz), theta (activity 4-6 Hz) and delta (activity less than 3 Hz) respectively, as well as changes in the lateralization of the activity (left or right hemisphere). We also expect an improvement in the variables such as mindfulness, self-compassion, positive affect, anxiety, depression and sleep quality.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• sign of informed consent
• no previous meditation training experience

Exclusion criteria

• mental or neurologic disorder
• respiratory disease
• previous brain damage history
• medication intake that could interfere in the electroencephalographic results

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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80 participants in 4 patient groups

Control Group: Relaxation Techniques

Active Comparator group

Description:

Relaxation techniques which do not involve either formal or informal mindfulness training. Subjects in this group practice Jacobson's progressive muscular relaxation, emotional imagining and Schultz's autogenic training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control group relaxation techniques

Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta)

Experimental group

Description:

Loving-kindness meditation following Kristin Neff protocol

Treatment:

Behavioral: Loving-kindness meditation

Body Scan

Experimental group

Description:

Body scan as described in standard MBSR protocol

Treatment:

Behavioral: Body scan

Sitting Practice

Experimental group

Description:

Sitting practice as mindfulness meditation described in standard MBSR protocols.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Sitting practice