TY - JOUR

T1 - What Next After MBSR/MBCT? An Open Trial of an 8-Week Follow-on Program Exploring Mindfulness of Feeling Tone (vedanā)

AU - Williams, J. Mark G.

AU - Baer, Ruth

AU - Batchelor, Martine

AU - Crane, Rebecca

AU - Cullen, Chris

AU - de Wilde, Kath

AU - Fennell, Melanie

AU - Kantor, Linda

AU - Kirby, Janine

AU - Ma, S. Helen

AU - Medlicott, Emma

AU - Gerber, Barbara

AU - Johnson, Many

AU - Ong, Ee-Lin

AU - Peacock, John W.

AU - Penman, Danny

AU - Phee, Andy

AU - Radley, Lucy

AU - Watkin, Matthew

AU - Taylor, Laura

PY - 2022/8

Y1 - 2022/8

N2 - ObjectivesThe effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) has been established in many randomized controlled trials. However, effect sizes are often modest, and there remains ample scope to improve their effectiveness. One approach to this challenge is to offer a “follow-on” course to people who have completed an MBP and are interested in further skill development. We developed and tested a new 8-week course for this purpose based on awareness of feeling tone (vedanā), an understudied aspect of mindfulness in many current MBPs, incorporating new developments in neuroscience and trauma sensitivity. We examined its effectiveness and the frequency and severity of unpleasant experience and harm.MethodsIn an open trial, 83 participants, 78 of whom had previously taken part in an MBP (majority MBSR or MBCT), completed the program in nine groups. Participants completed questionnaires before and after and gave qualitative written feedback at completion.ResultsParticipants reported significantly reduced depression (d = 0.56), stress (d = 0.36), and anxiety (d = 0.53) and increased well-being (d = 0.54) and mindfulness (d = 0.65) with 38% meeting criteria for reliable change on anxiety and depression. As expected, about three-quarters of participants reported some unpleasant experiences associated with mindfulness practice during the course, but none reported harm. Five participants showed “reliable deterioration” (an increase) in either depression or anxiety, but four of these five also gave anonymous qualitative feedback describing benefits of the course.ConclusionsFindings support the added value of a follow-on course based on the exploration of feeling tone for participants who have a range of previous mindfulness experience.

AB - ObjectivesThe effectiveness of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) has been established in many randomized controlled trials. However, effect sizes are often modest, and there remains ample scope to improve their effectiveness. One approach to this challenge is to offer a “follow-on” course to people who have completed an MBP and are interested in further skill development. We developed and tested a new 8-week course for this purpose based on awareness of feeling tone (vedanā), an understudied aspect of mindfulness in many current MBPs, incorporating new developments in neuroscience and trauma sensitivity. We examined its effectiveness and the frequency and severity of unpleasant experience and harm.MethodsIn an open trial, 83 participants, 78 of whom had previously taken part in an MBP (majority MBSR or MBCT), completed the program in nine groups. Participants completed questionnaires before and after and gave qualitative written feedback at completion.ResultsParticipants reported significantly reduced depression (d = 0.56), stress (d = 0.36), and anxiety (d = 0.53) and increased well-being (d = 0.54) and mindfulness (d = 0.65) with 38% meeting criteria for reliable change on anxiety and depression. As expected, about three-quarters of participants reported some unpleasant experiences associated with mindfulness practice during the course, but none reported harm. Five participants showed “reliable deterioration” (an increase) in either depression or anxiety, but four of these five also gave anonymous qualitative feedback describing benefits of the course.ConclusionsFindings support the added value of a follow-on course based on the exploration of feeling tone for participants who have a range of previous mindfulness experience.

KW - Mindfulness-based program

KW - Feeling tone

KW - Harm

KW - Side effects

KW - Vedanā

U2 - 10.1007/s12671-022-01929-0

DO - 10.1007/s12671-022-01929-0

M3 - Article

C2 - 35818377

VL - 13

SP - 1931

EP - 1944

JO - Mindfulness

JF - Mindfulness

SN - 1868-8527

IS - 8

ER -