title: [Changes in self-referent emotions during inpatient psychotherapy: the role of mindfulness and acceptance].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Current theoretical and clinical approaches conceive the avoidance and acceptance of emotions as critical factors in the maintenance and alleviation of psychological problems. This study investigates the role of mindfulness, experiential avoidance (EA), and positive and negative meta-emotions (emotional reactions towards the emotional self) on the symptoms and psychological well-being of inpatients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes of mindfulness measured during a 6-week stay at a psychosomatic clinic were explored in a sample of 293 inpatients with diverse psychological problems. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictive power of mindfulness and acceptance on symptoms and psychological well-being.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staying on an inpatient ward was associated with reductions in EA and negative meta-emotions as well as improvements in mindful awareness and positive meta-emotions, i.e., participants reported greater acceptance of their own emotional reactions. These aspects were associated with a reduction in symptom severity and greater psychological well-being. A differentiation of meta-emotions allowed the meaningful identification of possible processes of change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anger and contempt seem to have distinctive functions in self-regulation. Reducing the amount of contempt/shame for one's own emotions and generating greater interest were associated with symptom reduction and greater psychological well-being. Self-compassion was negatively associated with symptoms, though it had no association with psychological well-being. The theoretical implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Univ.-Klinik für Medizinische Psychologie, Schöpfstraße 23 a, Innsbruck. horst.mitmansgruber@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mitmansgruber
authors.forename: Thomas N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grubinger
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schüssler
authors.forename: Reiner W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Dahlbender
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D001364:Awareness; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012752:Shame