Youth‐focused group mindfulness‐based intervention in individuals with early psychosis: A randomized pilot feasibility study

• Published in: Early intervention in psychiatry Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 993 - 998
• Main Authors: MacDougall, Arlene G., Price, Elizabeth, Vandermeer, Matthew R. J., Lloyd, Chantelle, Bird, Richelle, Sethi, Rickinder, Shanmugalingam, Aturan, Carr, Jason, Anderson, Kelly K., Norman, Ross M. G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd 01-08-2019; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Acceptability; affective symptoms; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Confidence intervals; early medical intervention; Feasibility studies; Mental depression; mindfulness; Psychosis; schizophrenia; early medical intervention; schizophrenia; affective symptoms; mindfulness; psychosis
• ISSN: 1751-7885; 1751-7893
• DOI: 10.1111/eip.12753

Aim
To assess the feasibility of a randomized pilot trial that evaluated the acceptability and potential clinical utility of the Mindfulness Ambassador Program (MAP), a unique, standardized 12‐session facilitated group mindfulness‐based intervention (MBI) for youth experiencing early psychosis.
Methods
Twenty‐one patients of an early psychosis intervention program were randomized to receive MAP (n = 11) or treatment as usual (n = 10). Acceptability was measured by group attendance rate and client satisfaction; feasibility of the study design was measured by the recruitment and retention rate. The means, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals were described for outcomes of interest.
Results
MAP is associated with a high degree of acceptability and has beneficial effects for depression and fatigue. The randomized trial design is feasible.
Conclusions
This study provides important pilot data supporting a larger randomized trial of effectiveness for MAP as a group MBI for early psychosis. Details of MAP and study limitations are discussed.