An Effective Strategy for Improving Physical & Mental Health
Jon Kabat-Zinn (2003) defines mindfulness as “The awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” (p.145). Although mindfulness originated from Eastern meditation practices and is considered the heart of Buddhism, Western scientists began studying its usefulness for improving physical and mental health in the mid-1970s. The first mindfulness-based stress reduction program was introduced to the psychological field by Kabat-Zinn in 1997.
Kabat-Zinn’s mindfulness-based stress reduction program was developed to reduce suffering in medical patients. As empirical evidence accumulated supports its effectiveness, experts began developing mindfulness-based treatments for a variety of physical and psychological problems.
Carlson, L. E., Speca, M., Patel, K. D., & Goodey, E. (2003). Mindfulness based stress reduction in relation to quality of life, mood, symptoms of stress, and immune parameters in breast and prostate cancer outpatients. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 571-581.
Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., Santorelli, S. F., Ubranowski, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., & Sheridan, J. F. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 564-570.
Dunn, B.R, Hartigan, J.A., & Mikulas, W.L. (1999). Concentration and mindfulness meditations: Unique forms of consciousness? Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 24, 147-165.
Hayes, S. C., Stroshal, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experimental Approach to Behavior Change. New York: Guilford Press.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (2003). Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World through Mindfulness. New York: Hyperion Books.
Kabat-Zinn J. (2003). Mindfulness-based stress reduction: Past, present, and future. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 10, 144-156.
Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., & Burney, R. (1985). The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 8, 163-190.
Kabat-Zinn, J., Massion, A. O., Kristeller, J., Peterson, L. G., et al. (1992). Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 936-943.
Kabat-Zinn, J., Wheeler, E., Light, T., Skillings, A., Scharf, M., Cropley, T. G., Hosmer, E., & Bernhard, J. (1998). Influence of a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosomatic Medicine, 60, 625-632.
Koszycki, D., Benger, M., Shlik, J., & Bradwejn, J. (2007). Randomized trial of a meditation-based stress reduction program and cognitive behavior therapy in generalized social anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 2518-2526.
Kristeller, J.L., Hallett, B. (1999). Effects of a meditation-based intervention in the treatment of binge eating. Journal of Health Psychology, 4(3), 357-363.
Linehan, M. M. (1993a). Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
Linehan, M. M. (1993b). Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
Linehan, M.M., Armstrong, H.E., Suarez, A., Allmon, D. & Heard, H.L. (1991). Cognitive-behavioural treatment of chronically parasuicidal borderline patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48, 1060-1064.
Roemer, L. & Orsillo, S.M. (2007). An open trial of an acceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Behavior Therapy, 38, 72-85.
Salmon, P. G., Santorelli, S.F., & Kabat-Zinn, J. (1998). Intervention elements promoting adherence to mindfulness-based stress reduction programs in the clinical behavioral medicine setting. In S. A. Shumaker, E. B. Schoron, J.K. Ockene, & W. L. Bee (Eds.), Handbook of Health Behavior Change, 2nd ed., (pp. 239-268). New York: Springer.
Saxe, G.A, Hébert, J. R., Carmody, J. F., Kabat-Zinn, J., Rosenzweig, P. H., Jarzobski, D., Reed, G. W., & Blute, R. D. (2001). Can diet in conjunction with stress reduction affect the rate of increase in prostate specific antigen after biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer? The Journal of Urology, 166, 2202-2207.
Teasdale, J.D., Segal, Z. V., & Williams, J. M. G. (1995). How does cognitive therapy prevent depressive relapse and why should attentional control (mindfulness) training help? Behavior Research and Therapy, 33, 25-39.
Teasdale, J.D., Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., Ridgeway, V. A., Soulsby, J. M., & Lau, M. A. ( (2000). Prevention of relapse / re-occurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 615-623.