Mindfulness-based acceptance and posttraumatic stress symptoms among trauma-exposed adults without axis I psychopathology

“…Diagnostic Scale – Avoidance Sympt a Normative data for comparison. b Range of possible scores. c N = 663, general time-frame, undergraduate student sample (Watson et al., 1988). d N = 215, undergraduate student sample (Baer et al., 2004). e N = 120, non-PTSD sample (Foa, 1995). f Not available…”

“Baer et al. (2006) continue to promote the utility of the KIMS in measuring four of the five identified mindfulness facets at the present stage of research.”

“However, despite promise of mindfulness for improved psychological functioning, there is a lack of consensus on an overarching theoretical framework, and by extension, operationalization of the construct (Bishop et al., 2004; Zvolensky, Feldner, Leen-Feldner, & Yartz, 2005).”

“This hypothesis was informed by theoretical models of mindfulness that posit Acting with Awareness also is a unique explanatory component relevant to psychological health (Bishop et al., 2004; Hayes et al., 1996; Linehan, 1993).”

“…for the KIMS also has been established with the five-factor model of personality (NEO Five; Costa & McCrae, 1992), a broad range of psychopathology symptoms, and other theoretically-relevant constructs (e.g., alexithymia, absorption, satisfaction with life; see Table 3 listed in Baer et al., 2004).”

“Additionally, increased mindfulness skills, defined generally as purposeful, non-judgmental, present-centered attention (e.g., Segal et al., 2002), have been associated with the prevention of major depressive disorder recurrence (Ma & Teasdale, 2004), lower rates of relapse for substance abuse…”

“Although the idea that efforts to (rigidly) avoid trauma-related sequelae is certainly not new to models of stress and anxiety (Barlow, 1988; Mineka, 1985), and many psychosocial treatments are purposively designed to counteract such regulatory behavior through a willingness and acceptance of experience (Walser & West…”

“Vujanovic et al. (2009) pointed to one of the most prominent definitions of mindfulness presented by Bishop et al. (2004), and we add the similarly prominent definition provided by Kabat-Zinn (2013), and both definitions’ focus on awareness of the pre-sent moment and non-judgmental acceptance as…”

“This produces a state of fear, disastrous thinking, mental distress, and even a feeling of immediate dying, as well as makes them follow strategies like distraction to avoid the undesirable experience (1, 9, 16, 27, 28).”

“Prior research in this area has demonstrated significant associations between aspects of ER and all PTSD symptom clusters even after controlling for negative affect (e.g., Tull et al., 2007; Vujanovic et al., 2009).”

“Meditation training can also improve an individual’s ability to accept a variety of conditions with neutrality, which, in turn, can reduce avoidant behavior (Br¨anstrom et al., 2012; Lang et al., 2012; Vujanovic et al., 2009).”

“Other studies have also demonstrated a decrease in anxiety symptoms with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (Barnhofer et al., 2010; Cash & Whittingham, 2010; De Bruin et al., 2012; Vujanovic et al., 2009).”

“Additionally, in studies of PTSD symptoms, higher levels of awareness and acceptance correlated with reduced PTSD symptoms (Vujanovic et al., 2009).”