Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Stigma in Female Patients With Schizophrenia

Abstract

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been increasingly recognized as effective in different mental illnesses, but these effects are limited in schizophrenia. For patients with schizophrenia, stigma is one of the most negative factors that affects treatment, rehabilitation and social function. This research aimed to determine the effects of MBCT on stigma in patients with schizophrenia. In total, 62 inpatients with schizophrenia were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group or control group. The experimental group received an 8-week MBCT intervention, and the control group were treated as usual. Link's Stigma Scales (with three subscales, including perceived devaluation-discrimination (PDD), stigma-coping orientation, and stigma-related feeling), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire (ITAQ) were used to collect data before and after intervention. After intervention, the post-test score of PDD, stigma-coping orientation, FFMQ, and ITAQ were significantly different between the experimental group and the control group. In the experimental group, the PDD and stigma-coping orientation scores significantly decreased, and FFMQ and ITAQ scores increased remarkably (P < 0.05). In addition, correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between mindfulness and stigma. MBCT was effective in reducing stigma in patients with schizophrenia, which mainly manifested as changes in the patients' perception of stigma as well as the withdrawal and avoidance caused by schizophrenia. Enhancing mindfulness will help reduce the stigma level. MBCT is worthy of promotion and application in patients with schizophrenia.

Effect of Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Recent-Onset Psychosis for Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Control Trial

“…The findings of the intervention effect of developing mindfulness skills among the examined patients, as measured by the FFMQ, backed up the effect of MBI on reducing positive and negative symptoms and enhancing recovery. After the seven sessions, the patients in the intervention group had a substantial increase in self-reported mindfulness, showing that the intervention increased participants' awareness of mindfulness, which was consistent with prior MBI studies (Tabak et al, 2015& Tang et al, 2021. Fortunately, the results of the current study are closely interrelated, and this has been shown in the positive impact of the program on the three variables measured by the study, as the results of the study proved that total positive and negative symptoms score correlated significantly and negatively to five total facet mindfulness score and total recovery assessment score.…”

Trait Mindfulness, Compassion, and Stigma Towards Patients with Mental Illness: A Study Among Nurses in Sri Lanka

“…Despite the theoretical support for a potentially protective role of mindfulness against stigma towards patients with mental illness, the lack of research conducted in this regard is noteworthy. Some studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of mindfulness for self-stigma among patients with mental illness (Martin et al, 2020 ; Tang et al, 2021 ), but the effects on public stigma and stigma among healthcare professionals remain unexplored. In this setting, we set out to investigate whether trait mindfulness and facets of mindfulness were associated with lower stigma among nurses towards psychiatric patients, and to investigate whether compassion towards others acts as a mediator in these relationships.…”

Mindfulness-based interventions for non-affective psychosis: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis

“…[ 40 ], Gumley et al. [ 35 ], and Yang and Zhu [ 41 ]. Nineteen studies arranged for home practice, either compulsory or non-compulsory, following guided sound-tracks or the completion of a log book.…”