silashoulder t1_ivu5rd3 wrote on November 10, 2022 at 5:08 PM

Reply to comment by dadaesque in New study (n=276) finds that a standardized mindfulness program is as effective as a common antidepressant (Escitalopram) at treating anxiety, with both treatments leading to about a 30% reduction in symptoms. by fotogneric

My concern is that, by scheduling specific meditations, patients might run the risk of compartmentalizing their tools. That’s not to imply that a patient would only be able to practice mindfulness at a predetermined part of the day, but I’d push for further investigation into what the best immersion techniques are.

I also suspect that the timeline parallels the Buddhist practice you mentioned, purely out of tradition, which medical scientists have been guilty of before. (For example, it’s perfectly safe to take antibiotics and have a glass of wine. There’s some evidence that Prohibition was partly motivated by doctor’s’ recommendations against drinking alcohol to reduce the risk of “being fun enough at parties to have sex with,” thereby spreading STIs, particularly among the military ranks.)

(Edit: see also, Why Fitbits Are Set at 10,000 Steps.)

dadaesque t1_ivulggz wrote on November 10, 2022 at 6:48 PM

MBSR was indeed based on Buddhist practices. The point of the dedicated sessions is that it helps you build some capacity for mindfulness that you can bring with you to other situations, not that you simply do it and be done with it. That’s also the point of the the full day session of n the program. In addition, they have to have some, specific, defined benchmark in order to study “mindfulness” vs a known intervention. They can’t just get 100 people and tell them to go out and “do mindfulness”.

MephIol t1_ixzzm41 wrote on November 27, 2022 at 6:41 PM

It’s continuous and mindfulness extends. The program teaches many forms as well. Watch a video on it and see for yourself! There’s a TED talk from one of the founders of MBCT.

Additionally, communities of mindfulness exist that help for social dimensions such that I would love to see long term research of the social implications of meditators with anxiety or depress

Karma_collection_bin t1_iy27w9r wrote on November 28, 2022 at 4:31 AM

>scheduling specific meditations, patients might run the risk of compartmentalizing their tools.

That would depend on the content of the program, knowledge imparted, etc, would it not? etc

E.g. In my guided meditation app, they almost always end with something along the lines of "and as you go about your day, check-in with yourself, set an intention for your day, spend time in between activities or during them to do X mindfulness-practice" etc etc.

And honestly I think that's very different than something else that people would typically glaze over. Because it's something that's said during a mindfulness session, in which the 'patient' is engaged, paying attention generally. And honestly if they are always glazing over that part, then I don't believe they would even be actually making the effort to even start sessions daily.

Edit: I'll also say that with this practice, you're actually training the ability to bring awareness to your thoughts. That's something that affects your day, regardless.