Efficacy of a mindfulness and compassion-based intervention in psychotherapists and their patients: Empathy, symptomatology, and mechanisms of change in a randomized controlled trial.

In recent years, mindfulness and compassion-based interventions (MCBI) have been found to beneficially influence the acquisition of essential skills in psychotherapy and are a promising way to improve relationships with patients. In this regard, new studies are needed to evaluate the effects of MCBI on psychotherapists and their patients and to analyze the influence of these effects on the processes and outcomes of psychotherapy. In this randomized controlled trial, we evaluate the efficacy of an MCBI in psychotherapists' mindfulness skills and self-reported empathy, as well as its indirect effect on patients (patient-reported psychotherapists' empathy, therapeutic bond, and symptomatology). Finally, we present a multilevel structural equation model (MSEM) to analyze the relationship between these variables in psychotherapists and their patients. A group of psychotherapists (N = 63) were randomized to an MCBI or an active control group (empathy diary). We assessed psychotherapists and their patients (N = 121) before and after the MCBI and at follow-up evaluation. Psychotherapists' results showed an increase in psychotherapeutic mindfulness skills (PMS) after the MCBI and at follow-up, whereas self-reported empathy improved at follow-up. Patients' results showed an improvement in perceived empathy, therapeutic bond, and symptomatology after the MCBI. The improvements in symptomatology were maintained for somatization and anxiety at follow-up. According to the MSEM, the increase in PMS is related to an increase in patient-reported psychotherapists' empathy, which produces an improvement in therapeutic bond and their symptomatology. These results support the benefits of introducing MCBI in psychotherapists' training to improve the psychotherapy outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Changes in Salivary Immunoglobulin A, Stress, and Burnout in a Workplace Mindfulness Intervention: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a 6-week workplace mindfulness- and self-compassion-based intervention (MSCBI) on perceived stress, burnout, immune functioning (assessed with the biomarker Immunoglobulin A), self-compassion, and experiential avoidance compared to a Workplace Stress Management Intervention. Both interventions were contextual, i.e., they were carried out in the workplace setting and during working hours. We followed a randomised controlled trial study design. The total sample was composed of 24 employees of an automotive company. One-way analyses of covariance between groups revealed significant differences in post-intervention levels of perceived stress, salivary Immunoglobulin A (sIgA), emotional exhaustion, self-compassion, and experiential avoidance, after adjusting for pre-test scores. The results of this study have several implications. Firstly, it confirms that MSCBIs might be more effective than regular psychoeducational interventions for work-related stress and burnout treatment. Secondly, sIgA can be used to assess immune function state changes when MSCBIs are carried out. Furthermore, these results indicate that it is feasible to carry out MSCBIs within companies and during working hours, and that these interventions can help effectively manage stress and burnout associated with the work environment.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on psychotherapy processes: A systematic review.

In the field of psychotherapy, scientific research has highlighted the importance of empathy and therapeutic alliance in regard to the effectiveness and better results of psychological treatments. In recent years, mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have shown to be effective at increasing empathy and therapeutic alliance and how this could affect the patients' symptomatology. In this study, we conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of MBIs applied to psychotherapists to improve their empathy, the therapeutic alliance and the patients' symptomatology. Sixteen studies evaluating the impact of an MBI on some of these variables were identified, of which six included measures evaluated by the patients whose psychotherapists received the MBI. The risk of bias of the included studies was analysed following the methodological standards. We found very different designs and methodologies in the studies included in this review, with few of them including a control group. The results show a limited increase in empathy, measured by the psychotherapist, after an MBI. However, the results in therapeutic alliance are not conclusive, as well as the improvements in the perception of patients about their symptomatology. It is concluded that MBIs can have a beneficial effect on the psychotherapeutic practice, through the development of psychotherapists' empathy. Future research would require new studies with a higher methodological quality, and in which the effects of MBIs on empathy, therapeutic alliance and patients' symptomatology and the relationships between them are analyzed.

Differential Effects of Mindfulness-Based Intervention Programs at Work on Psychological Wellbeing and Work Engagement.

Two different mindfulness-based interventions were deployed in a sample of white-collar workers to explore the differential effects on different facets of mindfulness, dimensions of psychological wellbeing, work engagement, performance, and stress of a participant. A total of 28 participants completed one of the different programs, and their results were compared between groups and against 27 participants randomly allocated to a waiting list control group. Results suggest both mindfulness intervention programs were successful at increasing the levels of psychological wellbeing, work engagement, and performance of the participants, as well as decreasing their levels of stress. Significant differences were found between the two programs in all outcome variables. Results suggest that brief and customized mindfulness interventions at work are as successful as lengthier programs.

Introducing mindfulness and compassion-based interventions to improve verbal creativity in students of clinical and health psychology.

OBJECTIVES: In the field of psychotherapy, verbal creativity has been suggested as an important aspect in psychotherapists' training. In the present study, the effects of a mindfulness and compassion-based intervention (MCBI) on verbal creativity are analysed in students of clinical and health psychology (N = 90). DESIGN: Students were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 37), in which an MCBI was applied, and a waiting list group (n = 26) with no intervention. We also assessed a non-randomized active control group (n = 27), in which students received training in basic psychotherapy skills. METHODS: Verbal creativity (fluency, flexibility, and originality) was evaluated in a pre-, post-, and follow-up assessment. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant increase in fluency (p = .001, d = .64), flexibility (p = .017, d = .67), and originality (p = .004, d = .72) in the experimental group, relative to the waiting list group, in the post-assessment. Fluency (p = .010, d = .64) and flexibility (p = .033, d = .62) were also found to be higher in the follow-up assessment. In addition, results indicated a significant increase in flexibility (p = .034, d = .74) in the experimental group, relative to the active control group, in the follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing MCBI in the university education of psychotherapists seems to be a useful strategy to improve their verbal creativity, which could positively influence their ability to explore and appropriately respond to their patients' needs. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Mindfulness and compassion-based interventions (MCBIs) could be a useful strategy to improve verbal creativity in the university education of psychotherapists. After the MCBI, students of clinical and health psychology increased the number of ideas they produced when facing a specific situation, as well as their variety and originality.

Brief mindfulness session improves mood and increases salivary oxytocin in psychology students.

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been shown to be effective in increasing empathy in health professionals. Yet, more research is needed to analyse the specific influence of mindfulness exercises on biological variables involved in empathy, such as the biological system of oxytocin activity. In this study, we analyse the effects of a brief mindfulness session on positive and negative affect, state anxiety and salivary oxytocin (sOXT) in psychology students (N = 68). In the experimental group (n = 42), a mindfulness session was performed that included different guided meditation exercises. In the control group (n = 26), an emotion recognition exercise was carried out, along with a series of creative activities. Results showed that the mindfulness session was effective, because there was a significant reduction in negative affect (d = -.56, p < .001) and state anxiety (d = -.54, p = .007) in the experimental group. Likewise, there was an increase in sOXT (d = .99, p < .001) in this group, compared with the control group. Guided mindfulness meditation practice could be useful to reach an emotional and biological state that facilitates empathy. In this regard, the increase in sOXT after the mindfulness session adds further evidence about the biological mechanisms underlying the benefits of MBI on empathy.

Putting Oneself in the Body of Others: A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of an Embodied Virtual Reality System to Generate Self-Compassion.

Compassion-based interventions (CBIs) have been shown to be effective for increasing empathy and compassion, and reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. CBIs are based on constructive meditations where imagery abilities are essential. One of the major difficulties that participants report during the training is the difficulty related to imagery abilities. Virtual reality (VR) can be a useful tool to overcome this limitation because it can facilitate the construction and sustainment of mental images. The machine to be another (TMTBA) uses multi-sensory stimulation to induce a body swap illusion. This system allows participants to see themselves from a third perspective and have the illusion of touching themselves from outside. The main objective of the present study was to analyze the efficacy of a self-compassion meditation procedure based on the TMTBA system versus the usual meditation procedure (CAU) in increasing positive affect states, mindful self-care, and adherence to the practice, and explore the influence of imagery abilities as moderators of the effects of the condition on adherence. A sample of 16 participants were randomly assigned to two conditions: TMTBA-VR and CAU. All participants had to listen to an audio meditation about self-compassion and answer questionnaires before and after the training. The TMTBA-VR condition also had a body swap experience at the end of the meditation while listening to self-compassionate messages. Afterward, they were invited to practice this meditation for 2 weeks and then measured again. After the compassion practice, both conditions significantly increased positive qualities toward self/others, decreased negative qualities toward self, and increased awareness and attention to mental events and bodily sensations, with no differences between the conditions. After 2 weeks, both conditions showed a similar frequency of meditation practice and increases in specific types of self-care behaviors, with the frequency of clinical self-care behaviors being significantly higher in TMTBA. Finally, lower imagery ability in the visual and cutaneous modality were moderators of the efficacy of the TMTBA (vs. CAU) condition in increasing adherence to the practice. Embodied VR could be an interesting tool to facilitate and increase the efficacy of CBIs by facilitating the construction of positive and powerful mental images.