Training in the Gap Between Conditioning and Learning

Biofeedback intervention draws from multiple attitudes toward healing: mind-body medicine, behavioral psychology, sport psychology, experimental psychology, contemplative practices, and so forth. The most prominent approach is behavioral psychology. Following this psychological orientation, we use biofeedback instrumentation as a conditioning methodology. On the other hand, drawing from experimental psychology, the same instrumentation is used to achieve awareness. Awareness does not necessarily precede change. This article aims first to outline the difference between conditioning and learning and then introduce a session format that promotes learning.

Reducing Stress and Burnout in Military Healthcare Professionals Through Mind–Body Medicine: A Pilot Program

ABSTRACT Introduction A 6-week mindfulness training course, the Mind–Body Medicine (MBM) pilot program for staff, was implemented at a large military treatment facility to examine the preliminary efficacy of the program in reducing stress and burnout in military healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted of data collected from a single-arm prospective MBM pilot program. The program was designed to help staff members increase their awareness of burnout and its consequences and to learn how to utilize mindfulness-based self-care practices as a means for reducing stress and preventing burnout at work. Participants attended a 2-hour MBM group each week for a total duration of 6 weeks. Assessments of stress, resilience, anxiety, somatic symptoms, functional impairment, sleep quality, quality of life, and burnout were administered at baseline (T1), upon completion of the 6-week program (T2), and at least 3 months after program completion (T3). Multilevel modeling was used as the primary statistical model to assess changes in outcomes. Fifty-nine staff members completed assessments at T1, 31 (52.5%) at T2, and 17 (28.8%) at T3. Results Participants showed improvements on scores of perceived stress, resilience, anxiety, somatic symptoms, quality of life, and burnout variables from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3 (P < .05). Additionally, they reported improvements in their knowledge, understanding, and utilization of MBM concepts and practices from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3 (P < .05). Conclusions Results from this pilot suggest that the MBM program has the potential to reduce occupational stress and burnout and improve well-being in military healthcare professionals.

Do as I Do: Physician- and Learner-Led Mind-Body Medicine Group Visits

Introduction: Care of patients with chronic medical and mental health conditions can be a source of frustration for primary care clinicians and may present a challenge in modeling effective interventions for medical learners. Mind-body medicine (MBM) interventions have shown success for a variety of conditions, and training in MBM has been associated with decreased burnout and improved professional satisfaction.8 We piloted MBM collaborative visits led by faculty physicians and facilitated by medical learners. We then assessed their efficacy treating patients with complex needs. Methods: We conducted a series of eight weekly 2.5-hour MBM interventions for groups of five to eight participants (52 in total) with chronic health conditions. Matched-pair hypothesis t tests analyzed nine health indicators measured pre- and postintervention: the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) as well as participants’ perceived mental and physical health, stress and stress coping, agency, and capacity to connect with others. We made conservative calculations of effect size using Hedges’ g. Results: Participants showed significant, large improvements in their PHQ-9 scores (P<.005, g=0.807), and moderate improvements in ability to cope with stress (P<.005, g=0.502), sense of control over their diagnoses (P<.05, g=0.413), and perceived overall mental health (P<.05, g=0.424). Other outcomes were nonsignificant, including a small improvement in participants’ perceived overall health (P=.071, g=0.286). Conclusions: Patients completing the intervention enjoyed largely improved outcomes despite unchanged stress at work and home. Physician-led MBM collaborative visits comprise a feasible, reproducible, and reimbursable treatment option for improving patient care. They also immerse medical learners in an evidence-based practice model supportive of professional satisfaction.

Effects of an Integrative Mind-body-medicine Group Program for Breast Cancer Patients during Chemotherapy: An Observational Study

Background: Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers in women in the Western world. Cancer treatment, especially chemotherapy, is often associated with physical and psychosocial side effects. Objective: To improve the quality of life and manage side effects, a new integrative mind-body-medicine group concept for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy was developed and pilot tested. Methods: Breast cancer patients participated in a 66 hours mind-body-medicine group program tailored to the needs of cancer patients during chemotherapy. The program was integrated into standard care encompassing mindfulness training, yoga, moderate exercise, nutrition, complementary self-help strategies, cognitive restructuring, and acupuncture. Quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), depression and anxiety (HADS), stress (PSS-10), and fatigue (BFI) were assessed before and after the program as well as satisfaction and safety. Analyses were carried out exploratory with paired samples t-tests. Results: Fifty-seven female patients, 51.3±10.5 years, with breast cancer diagnoses were enrolled. After completing the program, global EORTC quality of life was improved (Δ=9.5; 95%-CI=[2.9|16.1]; p=.005), although the EORTC-symptom scales fatigue (Δ=9.9; 95%-CI=[1|18.8]; p=.030), nausea (Δ=7.1; 95%-CI=[0.6|13.6]; p=.031), and dyspnea (Δ=12.5; 95%- CI=[2.9|22.1]; p=.011) increased. Stress (Δ=-3.5; 95%-CI=[-5|-2.1]; p=.000), anxiety (Δ=-3.8; 95%-CI=[-4.9|-2.7]; p=.000), and depression (Δ=-3.9; 95%-CI=[-4.9|-2.8]; p=.000) were also significantly reduced. Regarding intensity of (Δ=0.2; 95%- CI=[-0.8|0.5]; p=.644) and the impairment through fatigue (Δ=0.1; 95%-CI=[-0.8|0.6]; p=.696), no significant worsening was observed. Patients were satisfied with the program. No serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Breast cancer patients benefit from an integrative mind-body-medicine group program during chemotherapy regarding the quality of life and psychological symptoms. Randomized controlled trials are warranted.

The Role of Mind-Body Medicine in a Cancer Survivor’s Experience

This paper tells the personal story of a cancer survivor and her experience dealing with death. It analyzes Ernest Becker’s thesis, The Denial of Death, by examining the solutions, which he suggests humans use to cope with the fear of death by establishing a sense of purpose and control. The author identifies examples of Becker’s solutions by looking at the mechanisms she used to cope with the possibility of dying through out her journey with cancer. With a tendency toward secularization and a focus on psychology in present day, the solutions people use to deal with death are changing. The author looks at how self-help, in the form of mind-body medicine, is a new solution that is used to deal with the fear of death in the present day socio-cultural landscape. While providing control, this way of dealing with the fear of death can be isolating and lead to self-blame. Keywords: Ernest Becker, Denial of Death, mind-body medicine, psychologize death, self-help.

Meditasi sebagai Mind Body Medicine

<em>Humans are one of the tangible proofs of existence in the universe whose life holds many mysteries that are very interesting objects of curiosity. Human life which is a perfect relation of two dimensions of life, is called sekala or material world and niskala or transcendent world becomes a space of inquiry to create a balanced life physically and spiritually. The many problems experienced by humans make meditation a very powerful technique in understanding human life materially and spiritually. In various scientific studies it has been found that meditation can help a person to revitalize his life both biologically and mentally. This practice becomes moderate between a person’s mind and body, which when a person’s mind is in a positive or negative state, will directly affect its biological aspects. Meditation in this case acts as a mind body medicine that creates a placebo effect that is able to provide a variety of positive effects on a person’s life through mechanisms that will change his perception and beliefs. Therefore, meditation as mind body medicine is a very important practice to be carried out to create a healthy mind, mental and physical for a healthy and harmonious life.</em>

Complementary medicine use in US adults with a history of colorectal cancer: a nationally representative survey

Background In the USA, colorectal cancer is among the top diagnosed cancers. The current study specifically targets the US adult population that have a history of colorectal cancer. Methods We used the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to investigate the prevalence and predictors of colorectal cancer survivors using complementary medicine in the past 12 months in a representative sample of the US population (N = 26,742). We descriptively analyzed the 12-month prevalence of any complementary medicine use separately for individuals with a prior diagnosis of colorectal cancer and those without. Using chi-squared tests and backward stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses, we identified predictors of complementary medicine use in the past 12 months. Results A weighted total of 1,501,481 US adults (0.6%) had a history of colorectal cancer. More individuals without (weighted n = 76,550,503; 31.2%) than those with a history of colorectal cancer (weighted n = 410,086; 27.3%) had used complementary medicine. The most commonly used complementary medicine among colorectal cancer patients was mind-body medicine, followed by chiropractic. A higher prevalence of complementary medicine use was associated with being female, higher educated and/or living in the US Midwest or South. Conclusions In this study, over one fourth of the US colorectal cancer survivors had used complementary medicine. Mind-body medicine was found to be the most commonly used. With evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of mind-body medicine use among colorectal cancer patients, promoting the use of evidence-based mind-body medicine for colorectal cancer management could be considered.