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The Journal of Nursing Education Aug 2023Nursing students experience higher rates of mental health issues than other college students. This study examined the effect of a mindfulness meditation intervention on... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Nursing students experience higher rates of mental health issues than other college students. This study examined the effect of a mindfulness meditation intervention on nursing students' levels of self-reported depression, stress, and anxiety.
METHOD
This randomized, experimental study implemented an online mindfulness meditation intervention for an experimental group of nursing students and provided nursing news modules for a control group of nursing students. Participants in experimental and control groups completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale online before and after completing 4 weeks of audio modules.
RESULTS
Results showed a statistically significant decrease in reported scores for depression, stress, and anxiety in the experimental group.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated the potential benefits of implementing an online mindfulness meditation intervention to support and improve mental health for nursing students. .
Topics: Humans; Meditation; Depression; Students, Nursing; Stress, Psychological; Mindfulness; Anxiety
PubMed: 37561896
DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20230612-02 -
HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine 2023Description Before embarking on a busy workday, take a moment to appreciate the sunrise. Living near the beach is a privilege that reminds me that you can find the calm...
Description Before embarking on a busy workday, take a moment to appreciate the sunrise. Living near the beach is a privilege that reminds me that you can find the calm necessary to face the demands of your role as a division research director through a few minutes of meditation during your commute. The footprints in the sand symbolize the work accomplished with residents, faculty, and staff the previous day. The pier represents the strength of remaining stable even amidst turbulent waves, which symbolize the ever-changing requests and priorities. The rising sun embodies self-energy and excitement for another day, knowing that "above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life," which makes it all worthwhile. Take a deep breath in and exhale.
PubMed: 38223475
DOI: 10.36518/2689-0216.1662 -
Pharmacological Reports : PR Dec 2023There has been increasing scientific and clinical interest in studying psychedelic and meditation-based interventions in recent years, both in the context of improving... (Review)
Review
There has been increasing scientific and clinical interest in studying psychedelic and meditation-based interventions in recent years, both in the context of improving mental health and as tools for understanding the mind. Several authors suggest neurophysiological and phenomenological parallels and overlaps between psychedelic and meditative states and suggest synergistic effects of both methods. Both psychedelic-assisted therapy and meditation training in the form of mindfulness-based interventions have been experimentally validated with moderate to large effects as alternative treatments for a variety of mental health problems, including depression, addictions, and anxiety disorders. Both demonstrated significant post-acute and long-term decreases in clinical symptoms and enhancements in well-being in healthy participants, in addition. Postulated shared salutogenic mechanisms, include, among others the ability to alter self-consciousness, present-moment awareness and antidepressant action via corresponding neuromodulatory effects. These shared mechanisms between mindfulness training and psychedelic intervention have led to scientists theorizing, and recently demonstrating, positive synergistic effects when both are used in combination. Research findings suggest that these two approaches can complement each other, enhancing the positive effects of both interventions. However, more theoretical accounts and methodologically sound research are needed before they can be extended into clinical practice. The current review aims to discuss the theoretical rationale of combining psychedelics with mindfulness training, including the predictive coding framework as well as research findings regarding synergies and commonalities between mindfulness training and psychedelic intervention. In addition, suggestions how to combine the two modalities are provided.
Topics: Humans; Hallucinogens; Mindfulness; Meditation; Emotions
PubMed: 37926796
DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00551-8 -
Holistic Nursing PracticeResearch has shown that meditation is beneficial for chronic pain, stress, and many physical and mental conditions. The definition of meditation has many forms, is... (Review)
Review
Research has shown that meditation is beneficial for chronic pain, stress, and many physical and mental conditions. The definition of meditation has many forms, is culturally influenced, and is practiced globally. This literature review seeks to report current literature on meditation related to therapeutic outcomes and create a globally informed definition of meditation for health-related purposes. From a western perspective, mindfulness-based stress relief (MBSR) is widely researched. Therefore, 15 studies from peer-reviewed research from 2015 and 2020 were used to examine various forms of meditation and describe a broader range of meditation practices other than MBSR. The different forms of meditation are: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Portugal), Active Engagement (Portugal), Adapted Mindfulness Program (Brazil), Adapted Mindfulness Program (Brazil), Cognitively-based Compassionate Training, Loving-kindness (United States, US), Mantra Meditation (US), Mindfulness-based stress reduction (US), Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (South Korea), Osho (India), Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology (Italy), Transcendental Meditation (Italy), Spiritual/Secular (US), Sufi (Pakistan), and Vipassana (Australia). The review was completed using a literature search method, and all meditation approaches report positive therapeutic outcomes for all participants (n = 768). This outcome enabled the creation of a broader therapeutic definition of meditation that can be applied in clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Meditation; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Stress, Psychological; Mindfulness; Australia
PubMed: 37966989
DOI: 10.1097/HNP.0000000000000626 -
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health 2023
PubMed: 37773308
DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13565 -
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii Apr 2024Psoriasis has a clear and strong connection with smoking in both its pathogenesis and clinical course. Smoking can cause a serious worsening of both the disease itself... (Review)
Review
Psoriasis has a clear and strong connection with smoking in both its pathogenesis and clinical course. Smoking can cause a serious worsening of both the disease itself and the systemic complications such as cardiovascular events, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), cancer and depression. Smoking also seems to alter the gut microbiota and thus promote psoriasis itself. The aim of our article is to review all the most interesting discoveries on its role and thus provide a good picture of the current state of knowledge. Furthermore, we provide some alternative and healthier coping mechanisms for stress and depression related to the disease such as exercise, meditation, balneotherapy and acupuncture.
PubMed: 38784922
DOI: 10.5114/ada.2023.133582 -
Current Problems in Cardiology Jan 2024Cardiovascular diseases are a collection of conditions that affect the blood vessels and the heart. These conditions include cardiac rehabilitation, hypertension,... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular diseases are a collection of conditions that affect the blood vessels and the heart. These conditions include cardiac rehabilitation, hypertension, cardiac failure, rheumatic heart disease, peripheral artery disease, and coronary heart disease. Poor nutrition, alcohol, lack of exercise, smoking, etc are the main behavioral risk factors for heart disease. This study delivers a methodical review of yoga's role in the management and inhibition of cardiovascular diseases and their associated risk factors. This review suggests that proper maintenance of fitness and stress employing yoga effectively lowers cardiovascular disease. In this review, various asanas, and pranayama like Marjaryasana, Kapalabhati, Halasana, etc have been discussed. Also, their role in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). In addition to this different metabolic syndrome associated with cardiovascular diseases and the relation of yoga with hypertension has been discussed. The review has documented satisfactory proof and concludes that yogic exercise enhances cardiovascular health and reduces associated risk factors.
Topics: Humans; Yoga; Cardiovascular Diseases; Meditation; Hypertension; Coronary Disease
PubMed: 37582455
DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.102032 -
The Journal of Analytical Psychology Sep 2023This written exchange is between a senior and a younger Jungian analyst on issues relevant to the development of analytical psychology throughout the world today. The...
This written exchange is between a senior and a younger Jungian analyst on issues relevant to the development of analytical psychology throughout the world today. The younger analyst, Stefano Carpani, considers himself a neo-Jungian. He explains to John Beebe, known for post-Jungian contributions to the study of typology, integrity, and gender, how important it is to include sociological perspectives alongside those that stem from the Jungian practice of relational psychoanalysis. The degree to which analysis has become an extended meditation on the relation of individual self-exploration to supra-personal Self-realization is emphasized by both authors, who envision this introspection leading to an expanded inner openness that Carpani has called "absolute freedom." The authors conclude that absolute freedom is a space of engaged reflection that can permit an informed but individualized approach to the complexities of the world soul today.
Topics: Male; Humans; Psychoanalysis; Psychotherapy; Communication; Meditation; Motivation
PubMed: 37551164
DOI: 10.1111/1468-5922.12944 -
Trends in Cognitive Sciences Oct 2023Contemplative practices are a staple of modern life and have historically been intertwined with morality. However, do these practices in fact improve our morality? The... (Review)
Review
Contemplative practices are a staple of modern life and have historically been intertwined with morality. However, do these practices in fact improve our morality? The answer remains unclear because the science of contemplative practices has focused on unidimensional aspects of morality, which do not align with the type of interdependent moral functioning these practices aspire to cultivate. Here, we appeal to a multifactor construct, which allows the assessment of outcomes from a contemplative intervention across multiple dimensions of moral cognition and behavior. This offers an open-minded and empirically rigorous investigation into the impact of contemplative practices on moral actions. Using this framework, we gain insight into the effect of mindfulness meditation on morality, which we show does indeed have positive influences, but also some negative influences, distributed across our moral functioning.
Topics: Humans; Meditation; Morals
PubMed: 37574378
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2023.07.005 -
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2023
PubMed: 38074522
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1304210