The Efficacy of Naikan Therapy on Male Offenders: Changes in Perceived Social Support and Externalized Blame.

Naikan is a contemplative self-observation practice that originated from Japanese Shin Buddhism and is utilized for rehabilitating prison inmates in many countries. Although some investigations have provided initial evidence for its efficiency in decreasing recidivism, there is still a need for further investigation of the effectiveness of Naikan on other outcomes through more controlled studies. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Naikan therapy on male offenders' perceived social support and externalized blame. Ninety-two male offenders were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or to the waiting group. All participants were evaluated by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Externalization subscale of the Test of Self-Conscious Affect before and after Naikan therapy. The results suggested that participants who received Naikan therapy showed higher levels of perceived social support and lower levels of externalized blame after Naikan therapy than before.

The Influence of Naikan Therapyon on Depression in Patients with Schizophrenia / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To study the influence of Naikan therapy on depression in patients with Schizophrenia.Methods 256 patients with Schizophrenia were divided into study group and control group according to the set sequence.The study group was simulated by Naikan therapy and the control group was given routine cure.All patients were assessed by Positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS),Simple coping style questionnaire (SCSQ),Defense way questionnaire (DSQ),Hamilton depression scale (HAMD),and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA).Restlts In the 6th week,the differences in HAMD score,Cover factor,negative coping were statistically significant between the two groups (t=2.37,2.33,2.36,P＜0.05).The differencs in HAMA score,Cover factor,negative coping were statistically significant between the 0th and the 6 th week in the study groups (t =2.31,2.42,2.47,P＜ 0.05).The difference of PANSS score were statistically significant between the 0th and 6th week of the two groups.Concltsion The Naikan therapy can improve the mental symptoms and depressive symptoms in patients with Schizophrenia.

The Influence of Naikan Therapy on the Family Function in Patients with Anxiety Disorder of Cerebral Infarction / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To study the influence of Naikan therapy on the family function in patients with anxiety disorder of cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 192 patients with anxiety disorder of cerebral infarction were divided into control group and study group according to the set sequence.The study group was treated with Naikan therapy and the control group received routine therapy.All patients were assessed by family assessment device (FAD),Hamilton depression scale (HAMD),and Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA).Results After 6-week treatment,the HAMD,HAMA,the affective reaction and behavior control scores in the study group were significantly lower than those before the treatment (t =2.24,2.43,2.37,2.35,P ＜ 0.05).The affective reaction and behavior control in the study group were obviously lower than that of the control group (t =2.51,2.41,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Naikan therapy can improve family function in patients with anxiety disorder of cerebral infarction.

Single-blind, randomized controlled trial of effectiveness of Naikan therapy as an adjunctive treatment for schizophrenia over a one-year follow-up period.

BACKGROUND: Current treatments for schizophrenia are often only partially effective. AIMS: Assess the possible benefit of using adjunctive Naikan therapy, a cognitive approach based on self-reflection that originated in Japan for the treatment of schizophrenia. METHODS: After resolution of acute psychotic symptoms, 235 psychiatric inpatients with schizophrenia who had a middle school education or higher were randomly assigned to a control group (n=112) that received routine medication and inpatient rehabilitative treatment or an intervention group (n=123) that also received adjunctive Naikan therapy for 2 hours daily, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The patients were then discharged and followed up for 12 months. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP), and Insight and Attitude Questionnaire (ITAQ) were used to assess patients at enrollment, after the 1-month intervention, and after the 12-month follow-up. Evaluators were blind to the group assignment of patients. RESULTS: Only 13 (10.6%) of the intervention group participants relapsed over the 12-month follow-up, but 23 (20.5%) control group participants relapsed (X(2)=4.50, p=0.034). Using a modified intention-to-treat analysis and a repeated measure analysis of variance, the PANSS, PSP, and ITAQ total scores all showed significantly greater improvement over the 12-month follow-up in the Naikan group than in the control group. The drop in mean chlorpromazine-equivalent dosage from enrollment to the end of follow-up was significantly different in the intervention group but not in the control group, though the change in dosage over time between groups was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides robust support for the effectiveness of Naikan therapy as an adjunctive treatment during the recovery period of schizophrenia. Compared to treatment as usually, adjunctive Naikan therapy can sustain the improvement in psychotic symptoms achieved during acute treatment, improve insight about the illness, enhance social functioning, and reduce relapse over a one-year follow-up period. Further research of this treatment with larger and more diverse samples of patients with schizophrenia is merited.