Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and distress in a community-based sample.
BACKGROUND
Numerous studies have found Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to be useful for a wide range of problems including anxiety, pain and coping with a medical illness. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week MBSR programme in relieving distress in a community based sample.


METHODS
Subjects (n = 14) were participants in the MBSR programme at a major academic medical center and completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) prior to starting the class and at the end of the 8-week course. Means and standard deviations were computed for the pre-and post-POMS total and subscale measures and the MAAS. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was conducted.


RESULTS
There were significant reductions on multiple dimensions of distress on the POMS as well as a significant increase in mindful awareness as measured by the MAAS.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that MBSR appears to be associated with a reduction of distress and increased awareness of everyday life experiences in a sample of residents living in a large urban community.
Evans
Susan
S
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY 10065, USA. sue2002@med.cornell.edu
Ferrando
Stephen
S
Carr
Corey
C
Haglin
Dean
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001364:Awareness; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D015013:Yoga / Q000523:psychology*