There Mindfulnessas we know, has its roots in the eastern contemplative tradition but also includes cognitive and emotional dimensions such as the regulation of attention, decentralization, awareness of thoughts, sensations and emotions, opening and acceptance towards every internal experience through a non -judgmental attitude.
The Mindfulness interventions They refer to the “third wave” of cognitive-behavioral therapy, within which different types of interventions affix the purpose of the emotional regulation in common through the increase in availability to embrace the experience of the here and now, negative or positive that it is, rather than avoiding it or trying to fight it.
As we know, the cognitive-behavioral therapy For psychosis he emphasizes the identification of dysfunctional beliefs and their direct testing with behavioral experiments and is effective for the treatment of both positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, etc.) and negative ones.
However, the different characteristics of the third wave interventions can be useful in alleviating the suffering associated with psychosisnot paving only on Symptoms controlas intrusive voices, images and thoughts, but based mainly on how the patient reacts to his own psychotic experiencesimplying not necessarily an accurate reflection on reality, but rather the awareness and acceptance of psychotic experience.
Observing the latter as something that passes, promoting awareness, rather than involvement in internal rumors and disputes, becomes the primary objective.
The Mindfulness interventions for psychosis They can be divided into three groups, based on the strategy used.
The first group includes protocols based on meditative practices, the second protocols based on acceptance and the third on the compassion focused Therapy.
Through the control of attention, the meditation It aims at emotional regulation by increasing positive sensations and reducing the maladative responses to negative ones.
In addition, acceptance plays a crucial role between the cognitive aspects of emotional regulation, increasing the management skills aware of the emotions that emerge and the relative activation.
For example, it is possible to instruct a patient with Psychotic symptoms To accept the idea of experiencing disturbing thoughts and emotions, noting them for what they are without cognitively investing in the progress or dispute with these.
The component of the component activates self -reassurance mechanisms, decreasing the impact of negative emotions and promoting the investment in positive emotions such as hope and optimism.
As proposed by some studies, the regulation of emotions is a central element of treatment of psychosis And these interventions promote their learning in different ways.
In a recent meta -analysis 13 studies were examined that took into consideration the aforementioned intervention strategies, highlighting how the Mindfulness interventionsalthough not aiming for the reduction of symptoms but the reduction of the discomfort connected to the symptoms themselves, are effective in stating the negative symptoms and improving the functioning and quality of life of patients.
In addition, patients have been found that patients suffering from psychosis they are more available to undertake a treatment that modifies their relationship with thoughts through the Mindfulness and acceptance practicesrather than a path that directly implies the modification of dysfunctional thoughts thanks to the use of reflections and rationalizations.
Comparing the 3 intervention strategies of minDUFULESS/acceptance/compassion what emerges is that the combination of the 3 obtains better clinical results compared to the independent application of one of the three, albeit the application of the Mindfulness Alone more positively than the others with satisfactory clinical results.
However, it is important to clarify similarities and differences in the interventions cognitive-behavioral Standards for psychosis and mindfulness ones compared to clinical results, more operationaling the assessment tools and intervention strategies of the third wave protocols.
Khoury B., Lecomte T., Gaudiano Ba (2013). Paquin K.MindFulness Interventions For Psychosis: A Meta-Analysis. Schizophrenia Research, 150(1), 176-84.
