Mindfulness Meditation Training and Self-Referential Processing in Social Anxiety Disorder: Behavioral and Neural Effects

Authors: Goldin, Philippe; Ramel, Wiveka; Gross, James

Source: Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Volume 23, Number 3, 2009 , pp. 242-257(16)

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $25.00 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

This study examined the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the brain-behavior mechanisms of self-referential processing in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD). Sixteen patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while encoding self-referential, valence, and orthographic features of social trait adjectives. Post-MBSR, 14 patients completed neuroimaging. Compared to baseline, MBSR completers showed (a) increased self-esteem and decreased anxiety, (b) increased positive and decreased negative self-endorsement, (c) increased activity in a brain network related to attention regulation, and (d) reduced activity in brain systems implicated in conceptual-linguistic self-view. MBSR-related changes in maladaptive or distorted social self-view in adults diagnosed with SAD may be related to modulation of conceptual self-processing and attention regulation. Self-referential processing may serve as a functional biobehavioral target to measure the effects of mindfulness training.

Keywords: SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER; FMRI; MINDFULNESS; SELF; CLINICAL INTERVENTION

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/0889-8391.23.3.242

Publication date: 2009-08-01

More about this publication?

Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy is devoted to the advancement of the clinical practice of cognitive psychotherapy. This scholarly journal seeks to merge theory, research, and practice and to develop new techniques by an examination of the clinical implications of theoretical development and research findings.
Information for Authors
Information for Advertisers
Free Sample Issue
Subscribe to this Journal
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites