CLINICAL USES OF MINDFULNESS TRAINING FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Abstract
Mindfulness training (MT) is a meditation-based approach that, on its own or in alliance with cognitive therapy, can effectively impact on several therapeutic targets such as recurrent depression, some anxiety problems, and chronic physical pain. This article outlines how mindfulness training complements cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and why it may be particularly useful to older people. The range of potential applications of MT is examined, followed by considerations of the evidence to date and both the advantages and dangers of current developments within the various MT programmes. The author's ongoing research on Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for older people with recurring depression is described, as is the use of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in routine clinical practice. Suggestions are provided regarding future research into the range of applications of MT with older people.
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Some evidence suggests that in older adults, acceptance is associated with better emotional wellbeing and quality of life.
“Some evidence suggests that in older adults, acceptance is associated with better emotional wellbeing and quality of life [35, 42–44].”
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Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: A review of empirical studies
Keng, S.-L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.04.006 · Cited by 2,687 · see citing works
“, 2006), school teachers (Napoli, 2004), elderly and their caregivers (Epstein-Lubow, McBee, Darling, Armey, & Miller, 2011; McBee, 2008; Smith, 2004), prison inmates (Bowen et al.”
A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations
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“The 30-item scale yields scores indicative of normal mood (0-9), mildly depressed (10-19), or severely depressed (20-30).”
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“Smith ( 2004 ) noted that many older people have more free time which might mean that attention, rather than being divided, is given fully to the task at hand.”
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Helmes, E., & Ward, B. G. (2017) · Aging & Mental Health · doi:10.1080/13607863.2015.1111862 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
“Smith (2004) argued that mindfulness training has equal benefits for older people to those for younger people.”
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“Supportive reports suggest mindfulness-based interventions are acceptable, safe, and effective for elderly adults ( Smith 2004 ); however, Franco et al.’ s( 2010) describe initial gains that were not maintained for dementia caregivers trained in mindfulness.”
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“Mindfulness training has been shown to have positive effects in older adults, and it has been suggested that mindfulness be used as a complement to Cognitive Behavior Therapy with older people (Smith, 2004).”
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“…into the original accounts of their participants (Allen et al., 2009; Finucane and Mercer, 2006; Fitzpatrick et al., 2010; Mason and Hargreaves, 2001; Smith et al., 2007) have been reflected within this metasynthesis more than those of the remaining articles (Griffiths et al., 2009; Smith, 2004).”
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“We include older adults with depression on the basis of the high prevalence of depression in older adults and a promising pilot study of MBCT with this group [29].”
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Rejeski, W. J. (2008) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/48.2.135 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
“However, as Smith (2004) has argued, mindfulness training helps older adults to become aware of how the mind’s Vol. 48, No. 2, 2008 137 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/48/2/135/661207 by guest on 30 July 2018 propensity to be self-critical perpetuates…”
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“Recently, there has been a growing interest in teaching mindfulness-based practices to the aging population and their caretakers (McBee 2003; Rejeski 2008; Smith 2004).”
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“Smith (2004) proposed that interventions based on acceptance and mindfulness may be less stigmatizing for older adults than traditional psychotherapy in that they require participants to work on life events and challenges that most people have in common, in contrast to traditional problem-focused…”
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“, Fletcher & Hayes, 2005; Kabat-Zinn, 2003) and has gained positive outcomes in many clinically related areas (McHugh, Simpson, & Reed, 2010; Smith, 2004; Teasdale, Segal, & Williams, 1995).”
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“2004) compared to 21% for older people (Smith et al. 2007), suggesting it is particularly relevant to explore older people’s experiences with new treatments. This study aimed to replicate and build on the work by Smith et al. (2007) and included validated self-report measures of mood and well-being: this quantitative…”
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“One study by Smith (2004) was excluded due to insufficient provision of information about the studymethod, design, collection of qualitative data and method of thematic analysis.”
Mindfulness Training for Caregivers
Epstein-Lubow, G. P., Miller, I. W., & McBee, L. (2006) · Psychiatric Services · doi:10.1176/appi.ps.57.3.421 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Geriatric mental health disaster and emergency preparedness
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Mindfulness-Based Elder Care: Communicating Mindfulness to Frail Elders and Their Caregivers
Bee, L. M. (2008) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-0-387-09593-6_24 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
“Smith (2004, 2006) has offered MBSR classes slightly modified in length to community dwelling elders with mild cognitive and physical impairments.”
BackgroundAn Exploratory Study of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Older People with Depression
Meeten, F., Whiting, S., & Williams, C. M. (2014) · Mindfulness · doi:10.1007/s12671-014-0279-1 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
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“These findings are similar to finding of previous researches where MBCT program was found “extremely useful” in reducing depressive symptoms in a geriatric population group.[29]”
ResultMINDFULNESS AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT IN PSYCHOTHERAPY
Segall, S. R., & Ph., D. (2014) · Cited by 16 · see citing works
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“Positive effects were also described in studies with older adults included in this meta-synthesis (Smith, 2004; Smith et al., 2007) as well as in a more recent study (Williams et al., 2018).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialThérapie basée sur la pleine conscience
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“However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness with older people (A Smith 2004); they may be more prone to loneliness and ill health due to loss and deteriorating mobility and so could possibly benefit from mindfulness training to promote occupational engagement.”
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“Those persons who use mindfulness practice in their psychotherapeutic work should be skilled in psychological assessment as mindfulness practice may not be indicated for persons with certain mental illnesses or would have to be modified to suit client needs (Davis et al. 2007; Smith 2004; Surawy et al. 2005).”
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“Other studies which applied various stress management techniques, such as cognitive restructuring (Granath, Ingvarsson, Thiele, & Lundberg, 2006), mindfulness (Smith, 2004), and meditation (Lindberg, 2005), found positive effects on the psychological state of the elderly.”
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“Bu sorunlar yaşlı bireylerde stres, ölüm anksiyetesi, depresyon ve umutsuzluk gibi psiko-patolojilerin ortaya çıkmasına neden olmaktadır (Smith, 2004).”
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ประสบการณการฟนคนไดของญาตผดแลทฝกเจรญสตปฏฐาน 4 และดแลผสงอายทมภาวะพงพง
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“…assumir um compromisso no sentido de aprender a sair do “piloto automático” e tornarmo-nos mais conscientes, fomentar uma postura de aceitação e gentileza para consigo próprio e os outros, procurar intencionalmente focalizar a atenção no corpo e ver o quão difícil/fácil isso pode ser (Smith, 2004).”
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- Authors
- Smith, A.
- Affiliations
- Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Alistair
- ORCID
- Smith, Alistair
- Venue
- Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2004-09-23
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 423-430
- ISSN
- 1352-4658 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-1833
- OpenAlex
- W2148677888
- Cited by
- 69
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- mindfulness training, older adults, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, recurrent depression, anxiety, chronic pain, meditation, clinical application
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