Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and distress in a community-based sample. 


Author: Evans S, Ferrando S, Carr C, Haglin D.

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY 10065, USA. sue2002@med.cornell.edu 
Conference/Journal: Clin Psychol Psychother. 
Date published: 2011 Nov-Dec
Other:
 Volume ID: 18   ,  Issue ID: 6   ,  Pages: 553-8   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1002/cpp.727. Epub 2010 Sep 28.   ,  Word Count: 183  
    BACKGROUND:

Numerous studies have found Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to be useful for a wide range of problems including anxiety, pain and coping with a medical illness. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week MBSR programme in relieving distress in a community based sample.

METHODS:

Subjects (n = 14) were participants in the MBSR programme at a major academic medical center and completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) prior to starting the class and at the end of the 8-week course. Means and standard deviations were computed for the pre-and post-POMS total and subscale measures and the MAAS. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was conducted.

RESULTS:

There were significant reductions on multiple dimensions of distress on the POMS as well as a significant increase in mindful awareness as measured by the MAAS.

CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that MBSR appears to be associated with a reduction of distress and increased awareness of everyday life experiences in a sample of residents living in a large urban community. 

Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 20878904