Showing posts with label mindfulness-based interventions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mindfulness-based interventions. Show all posts

Thursday, 6 February 2014

#487 Mindfulness, Science & Reductionism

     The latest mindfulness-based intervention, "Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), is designed to train people to respond differently to pain, stress & opioid-related cues."

     The definitions provided in the paper (below) of mindfulness, reappraisal & savoring are so brief as to be misleading. Clearly there's MUCH more to mindfulness than awareness for the purpose of self-regulation. Reappraisal / reframing, at least as it pertains to mindfulness, is also MUCH more complex, including acceptance and seeing things clearly as part of the overall big picture. Similarly, savoring as defined below sounds simplistic - FAR less nuanced & balanced than one experiences through mindfulness meditation practice. But such is the nature of reductionism, an inherent part of science.

     "MORE targets the underlying processes involved in chronic pain & opioid misuse by combining three therapeutic components: mindfulness training, reappraisal & savoring.
     • Mindfulness involves training the mind to increase awareness, gain control over one's attention & regulate automatic habits.

     Reappraisal is the process of reframing the meaning of a stressful or adverse event in such a way as to see it as purposeful or growth promoting.
     Savoring is the process of learning to focus attention on positive events to increase one's sensitivity to naturally rewarding experiences, such as enjoying a beautiful nature scene or experiencing a sense of connection with a loved one."

       Garland EL, Manusov EG, Froeliger B, Kelly A, Williams JM, Howard MO. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement for Chronic Pain and Prescription Opioid Misuse: Results From an Early-Stage Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2014; DOI: 10.1037/a0035798

 
Elena Shumilova  http://www.flickr.com/photos/75571860@N06/11874722676/

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

#323 Promoting Positive Health: Autonomy, Resilience, & Independence

     "The emerging discipline of positive health, which has developed from the field of positive psychology, proposes that a focus on wellness, rather than illness, leads to decreased health costs, improved mental and physical health in ageing, better prognosis when illness strikes, and longevity. This ‘asset-based paradigm’ provides an alternative perspective for strengthening psychological resilience." 
       Wand T. Positioning mental health nursing practice within a positive health paradigm. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 2013; 22: 116–124.
 

     It's essential to concentrate at least some of our efforts on thriving, flourishing, and finding true contentment & joy in life. Clearly, there's far more right than wrong with human beings (otherwise, we'd be extinct).
     Intelligent, non-pathologizing approaches that effectively encourage human flourishing include:

• Mindfulness-based interventions eg MBSR, MBCT etc http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/index.aspx
• Solution-focused therapy (SFT) http://www.solutionfocused.net/solutionfocusedtherapy.html
• Internal family systems (IFS) http://www.selfleadership.org/about-internal-family-systems.html
• Appreciative inquiry (AI) http://centerforappreciativeinquiry.net/
• Non-violent communication (NVC) http://www.cnvc.org/

     These evolved approaches benefit clinicians and patients! It's a welcome, hope-inspiring relief to be skillfully bringing out the best in people (vs "waging wars" on diseases).
 


    See also: http://mindfulnessforeveryone.blogspot.ca/2013/04/320-self-centered-judgments-breed-fear.html 

wchee   www.dpreview.com