Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T08:14:59.128Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mindfulness Groups for Distressing Voices and Paranoia: A Replication and Randomized Feasibility Trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2009

Paul Chadwick ,
Stephanie Hughes ,
Daphne Russell ,
Ian Russell  and
Dave Dagnan
Paul Chadwick*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
Stephanie Hughes
Affiliation:
Bangor University and South Essex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust, UK
Daphne Russell
Affiliation:
Bangor University, UK
Ian Russell
Affiliation:
Bangor University, UK
Dave Dagnan
Affiliation:
University of Lancaster, UK
*
Reprint requests to Paul Chadwick, Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: The clinical literature cautions against use of meditation by people with psychosis. There is, however, evidence for acceptance-based therapy reducing relapse, and some evidence for clinical benefits of mindfulness groups for people with distressing psychosis, though no data on whether participants became more mindful. Aims: To assess feasibility of randomized evaluation of group mindfulness therapy for psychosis, to replicate clinical gains observed in one small uncontrolled study, and to assess for changes in mindfulness. Method: Twenty-two participants with current distressing psychotic experiences were allocated at random between group-based mindfulness training and a waiting list for this therapy. Mindfulness training comprised twice-weekly sessions for 5 weeks, plus home practice (meditation CDs were supplied), followed by 5 weeks of home practice. Results: There were no significant differences between intervention and waiting-list participants. Secondary analyses combining both groups and comparing scores before and after mindfulness training revealed significant improvement in clinical functioning (p = .013) and mindfulness of distressing thoughts and images (p = .037). Conclusions: Findings on feasibility are encouraging and secondary analyses replicated earlier clinical benefits and showed improved mindfulness of thoughts and images, but not voices.

Keywords

Mindfulnessgroupspsychosisvoicesparanoia
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 37 , Issue 4 , July 2009 , pp. 403 - 412
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abba, N., Chadwick, P. D. J. and Stevenson, C. (2008). Responding mindfully to distressing psychosis: a grounded theory analysis. Psychotherapy Research, 18, 77–87.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bach, P. and Hayes, S. C. (2002). The use of acceptance and commitment therapy to prevent the rehospitalisation of psychotic patients: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology, 70, 1129–1139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baer, R. A. (2003). Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: a conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 125–143.Google Scholar
Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J. and Toney, L. (2006). Using self report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13, 27–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birchwood, M. J. and Chadwick, P. D. J. (1997). The omnipotence of voices: testing the validity of a cognitive model. Psychological Medicine, 27, 1345–1353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chadwick, P. D. J. (2006). Person-Based Cognitive Therapy for Distressing Psychosis. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Chadwick, P. D. J., Barnbrook, E. and Newman-Taylor, K. (2007). Responding mindfully to distressing voices: links with meaning, affect and relationship with voice. Journal of the Norwegian Psychological Association, 44, 581–588.Google Scholar
Chadwick, P. D. J., Hember, M., Symes, J., Peters, E., Kuipers, E. and Dagnan, D. (2008). Responding mindfully to distressing thoughts and images: reliability and validity of the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMQ). British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 47, 451–455.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chadwick, P. D. J., Lees, S. J. and Birchwood, M. J. (2000). The revised Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ-r). British Journal of Psychiatry, 177, 229–232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chadwick, P. D. J., Newman-Taylor, K. and Abba, N. (2005). Mindfulness groups for people with distressing psychosis. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 33, 351–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CORE (1988). Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE) Handbook. CORE System Group.Google Scholar
Deatherage, G. and Lethbridge, U. (1975). The clinical use of “mindfulness” meditation techniques in short-term therapy. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 7, 133–143.Google Scholar
Freeman, D. and Garety, P. (1999). Worry, worry processes and dimensions of delusions: an exploratory investigation of a role for anxiety processes in the maintenance of delusional distress. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 27, 47–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaudiano, B. A. and Herbert, J. D. (2006). Acute treatment of inpatients with psychotic symptoms using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: pilot results. Behavior Research Therapy, 44, 415–437.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haddock, G., McCarron, J., Tarrier, N. and Faragher, E. B. (1999). Scales to measure dimensions of hallucinations and delusions: the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale (PSYRATS). Psychological Medicine, 29, 879–889.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D. and Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: an experiential approach to behavior change. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: the program of the stress reduction clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre. New York: Dell.Google Scholar
Morrison, A. P. (2001). The interpretation of intrusions in psychosis: an integrative cognitive approach to hallucinations and delusions. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 29, 257–276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrison, A. P. and Wells, A. (2003). A comparison of metacognitions in patients with hallucinations, delusions, panic disorder, and non-patient controls. Behavior Research Therapy, 41, 251–256.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Romme, M. A. J., Honig, A., Noorthoorn, E. O. and Escher, A. D. (1992). Coping with hearing voices: an emancipatory approach. British Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 99–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G. and Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Teasdale, J. D., Moore, R. G., Hayhurst, H., Pope, M., Williams, S. and Segal, Z. V. (2002). Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: empirical evidence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 275–287.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yalom, I. D. (1995). The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Yorston, G. (2001). Mania precipitated by meditation: a case report and literature review. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 4, 209–213.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.