Promoting Mindfulness in Psychotherapists in Training Influences the Treatment Results of Their Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: All therapists direct their attention in some manner during psychotherapy. A special form of directing attention, ‘mindfulness’, is recommended. This study aimed to examine whether, and to what extent, promoting mindfulness in psychotherapists in training (PiT) influences the treatment results of their patients. Methods: The therapeutic course and treatment results of 124 inpatients, who were treated for 9 weeks by 18 PiTs, were compared. The PiTs were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: (i) those practicing Zen meditation (MED; n = 9 or (ii) control group, which did not perform meditation (noMED; n = 9). The results of treatment (according to the intent-to-treat principle) were examined using the Session Questionnaire for General and Differen-tial Individual Psychotherapy (STEP), the Questionnaire of Changes in Experience and Behavior (VEV) and the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R). Results: Compared to the noMED group (n = 61), the patients of PiTs from the MED group (n = 63) had significantly higher evaluations (according to the intent-to-treat principle) for individual therapy on 2 STEP scales, clarification and problem-solving perspectives. Their evaluations were also significantly higher for the entire therapeutic result on the VEV. Furthermore, the MED group showed greater symptom reduction than the noMED group on the Global Severity Index and 8 SCL-90-R scales, including Somatization, Insecurity in Social Contact, Obsessiveness, Anxiety, Anger/Hostility, Phobic Anxiety, Paranoid Thinking and Psychoticism. Conclusions: This study indicates that promoting mindfulness in PiTs could positively influence the therapeutic course and treatment results in their patients.

Mindful medical practice and the therapeutic alliance

“…The therapists were a mix of psychiatry residents, psychology interns, and licensed psychologists. In contrast to Grepmair et al 38 , there was not a significant relationship found between therapists' mindfulness and patient improvements assessed with the SCL-90. However, therapists' total mindfulness scores and scores on 'Accept without judgment' were significantly correlated with patient improvements in interpersonal functioning.…”

“…While the literature is relatively sparse, in a critical review of the literature Escuriex and Labbé 29 reported that data from 20 studies were inconclusive with regard to whether clinicians' mindfulness or meditation practices had a positive impact on patients' outcomes. Yet, in a European clinical trial conducted by Grepmair et al 38 psychotherapists-in-training were randomized to a group taught Zen meditation (N=9 working with 63 inpatients) or not. The results indicated that the patients in the experimental group showed significantly better results e.g.…”

Of the Soul and Suffering: Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Bereavement

“…Mindfulness on the part of mental health clinicians has been associated with significantly improved client outcomes compared to the clients whose clinicians do not meditate (Grepmair et al 2007). This suggests that the single, simple tool of provider mindfulness can have a powerful impact on client outcomes.…”

Psychobiology of Mindfulness

“…61,62 Mindfulness interventions are possibly helpful for psychotherapists in treating their patients. 63 Mindfulness traits may also be a predictor of treatment outcome. 64 …”