In a report published in Contemporary Nurse, researchers explored the experiences of 24 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) who underwent an eight-week mindfulness-based psychoeducation program (MBPP). They looked specifically at their perceptions of the benefits and challenges of mindfulness training and self-practice.
Eight of the participants were invited to complete a semi-structured interview one week after the final class of MBPP. Of this group, five participants had “unusual” experiences and three participants had a positive experience with MBPP.
In their review of qualitative data from the semi-structured interviews, the authors identified three major themes of patients’ experience with MBPP:
- developing a state of mindfulness
- empowering illness management
- learning a new way to regulate emotion
- encountering barriers in self-practicing mindfulness
- preference for bodily mindfulness
While these findings suggest that patients can develop a new way to regulate emotion and manage their illness through mindfulness psychoeducation, perceived negative experiences also warrants closer attention in mindfulness practice, the authors reported.
“This study establishes a body of knowledge regarding people with SSDs who received mindfulness psychoeducation intervention,” the authors concluded. “Further research should focus on factors leading to the negative consequences of mindfulness practice and the ways to minimize the negative consequences.”
Source: Contemporary Nurse
