Cinzia Perlini1, Marcella Bellani2, Maria Gloria Rossetti3, Giulia Rossin1, Niccolò Zovetti4, Alberto Rossi5, Cinzia Bressi6, Lidia Del Piccolo1, Paolo Brambilla7. 1. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Clinical Psychology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. 2. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Italy. Electronic address: marcella.bellani@univr.it. 3. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Italy; Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 4. Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Italy. 5. Department of Mental Health, ULSS9 Scaligera, Verona, Italy. 6. Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 7. Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: paolobram1@icloud.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the last 10 years, psychological approaches based on mindfulness techniques have been proposed for the management of psychotic experiences. METHOD: In this brief review we summarized, to our knowledge for the first time, published studies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) applied to the early phase of major psychoses (affective and non-affective). RESULTS: Despite the great variability in terms of MBIs protocols, available studies on young people at risk to develop or with a first episode of psychosis suggest MBIs as a feasible, well-tolerated and effective approach in ameliorating symptoms, functioning, emotion regulation, and finally reducing the psychological distress associated with the onset of mania and/or psychotic experience. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and inconsistencies between studies in terms of design, MBIs protocols and outcome measures suggest being cautious in interpreting and generalizing results. Moreover, specific guidelines are missing for the adaptation of MBIs to youth at risk of developing affective psychoses. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings show that MBIs may be considered a promising adjunctive therapy for the treatment of major psychoses in the early phases of the illness. However, the conduct of further studies in larger samples and with a more rigorous methodology is warranted to confirm the beneficial effect of MBIs in the early stages of major psychoses.
BACKGROUND: In the last 10 years, psychological approaches based on mindfulness techniques have been proposed for the management of psychotic experiences. METHOD: In this brief review we summarized, to our knowledge for the first time, published studies on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) applied to the early phase of major psychoses (affective and non-affective). RESULTS: Despite the great variability in terms of MBIs protocols, available studies on young people at risk to develop or with a first episode of psychosis suggest MBIs as a feasible, well-tolerated and effective approach in ameliorating symptoms, functioning, emotion regulation, and finally reducing the psychological distress associated with the onset of mania and/or psychotic experience. LIMITATIONS: The small sample size and inconsistencies between studies in terms of design, MBIs protocols and outcome measures suggest being cautious in interpreting and generalizing results. Moreover, specific guidelines are missing for the adaptation of MBIs to youth at risk of developing affective psychoses. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings show that MBIs may be considered a promising adjunctive therapy for the treatment of major psychoses in the early phases of the illness. However, the conduct of further studies in larger samples and with a more rigorous methodology is warranted to confirm the beneficial effect of MBIs in the early stages of major psychoses.