Dissociation between the cognitive and interoceptive components of mindfulness in the treatment of chronic worry.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the increasing interest in mindfulness, the basic components and action mechanisms of mindfulness remain controversial. The present study aims at testing the specific contribution of two components of mindfulness -attention to cognitive experience (metacognition) and awareness of interoceptive sensations (metainteroception)- in the treatment of chronic worry.


METHODS
Forty five female university students with high scores in the Penn State Worry Questionnaire were split into three groups: a mindfulness cognitive training group, a mindfulness interoceptive training group, and a non-intervention control group. Participants were assessed before and after the intervention using physiological indices of autonomic regulation (skin conductance, heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and self-report indices of mindfulness and clinical symptoms (chronic worry, depression, positive and negative affect, and perceived stress).


RESULTS
Both mindfulness training groups showed significant improvement after the intervention in self-report indices of mindfulness and clinical symptoms. However, the interoceptive training group was superior in also showing significant improvement in the physiological indices of autonomic regulation.


CONCLUSIONS
The relatively small sample size may have increased the probabilities of type I and II errors. Our Intervention program was relatively short. The participants were all female.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the hypothesis that, in the context of treating chronic worry, the interoceptive and cognitive components can be somewhat dissociated and that, when both components are applied separately, compared to a non-intervention condition, the interoceptive component is more effective.
University of Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: siulcar@hotmail.com.
Luis Carlos
LC
Delgado-Pastor
University of Granada, Avda del Hospicio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Luis F
LF
Ciria
University of Granada, Avda del Hospicio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Beatriz
B
Blanca
University of Granada, Avda del Hospicio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
José L
JL
Mata
University of Granada, Avda del Hospicio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
María N
MN
Vera
University of Granada, Avda del Hospicio s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain.
Jaime
J
Vila
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D065812:Interoception / Q000502:physiology*; D000067489:Metacognition / Q000502:physiology*; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D065809:Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Heart rate variability; Metacognition; Metainteroception; Mindfulness; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia; Worry