S. L. Shapiro and colleagues (2006) have described a testable theory of the mechanisms of mindfulness and how it affects positive change. They describe a model in which mindfulness training leads to a fundamental change in relationship to experience (reperceiving), which leads to changes in self-regulation, values clarification, cognitive and behavioral flexibility, and exposure. These four variables, in turn, result in salutogenic outcomes. Analyses of responses from participants in a mindfulness-based stress-reduction program did not support the mediating effect of changes in reperceiving on the relationship of mindfulness with those four variables. However, when mindfulness and reperceiving scores were combined, partial support was found for the mediating effect of the four variables on measures of psychological distress. Issues arising in attempts to test the proposed theory are discussed, including the description of the model variables and the challenges to their assessment.

Objective Study the effect of participation in a mindfulness training program (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) on degree of bother from hot flashes and night sweats. Methods Randomized trial of 110 late perimenopausal and early post-menopausal women experiencing average of ≥5 moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day. A wait list control was used, with three-month post-intervention follow-up. Main outcome was degree of bother from hot flashes and night sweats in previous 24 hours. Secondary measures: hot flash intensity, quality of life, insomnia, anxiety, perceived stress. Results Baseline average hot flash frequency was 7.87 (SD 3.44) and 2.81 night sweats (SD 1.76)/day. Mean bothersomeness score was 3.18 (SD 0.55) (‘moderately bothered/extremely bothered’). All analyses were intent to treat, and controlled for baseline values. Within-woman changes in bother from hot flashes differed significantly by treatment arm (week × treatment arm interaction P=0.042). At completion of intervention, bother in the MBSR arm decreased on average by 14.77% versus 6.79% for WLC. At 20 weeks total reduction in bother for MBSR was 21.62% and 10.50% for WLC. Baseline-adjusted changes in hot flash intensity did not differ between treatment arms (week × treatment arm interaction P=0.692). The MBSR arm made clinically significant improvements in quality of life (P=0.022), subjective sleep quality (p=0.009), anxiety (P=0.005), and perceived stress (P=0.001). Improvements were maintained 3 months post-intervention. Conclusions Our data suggest that MBSR may be a clinically significant resource in reducing the degree of bother and distress women experience from hot flashes and night sweats.

Background Improving asthma patients’ quality of life is an important clinical outcome. This study evaluated the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in improving quality of life and lung function in patients with asthma. Methods A randomized controlled trial compared an 8 week MBSR group-based program (n = 42) to an educational control program (n = 41) in adults with mild, moderate or severe persistent asthma recruited at a university hospital outpatient primary care and pulmonary care clinic. Primary outcomes were quality of life assessed by the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQOL), and lung function assessed by change from baseline in two-week average morning peak expiratory flow (PEF). Secondary outcomes were asthma control assessed by 2007 NIH/NHLBI guidelines, and stress assessed by Perceived Stress Scale. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 10 weeks, 6 and 12 months. Results At 12 months MBSR resulted in clinically significant improvements in quality of life (intervention effect 0.55 (95% CI 0.21, 0.89, p=0.001)) and perceived stress (intervention effect −4.5 (95% CI −7.1, −1.9; p= 0.001)). No significant effect was found on lung function (morning PEF, PEF variability, and FEV1). At 12 months the percentage of patients in MBSR with well-controlled asthma showed a non-statistically significant increase (7.3% at baseline to 19.4%) compared to the control condition (7.5% and 7.9%, respectively) (p=0.30). Conclusions MBSR produced lasting clinically significant improvements in asthma-related quality of life and stress in patients with persistent asthma, even in the absence of improvements in lung function.

The feasibility of mindful hypnotherapy (MH) intervention for stress reduction was investigated in a randomized trial. Forty-two collegeage participants with elevated stress were randomized into MH intervention or wait-list control condition. MH participants completed an 8-week intervention with 1-hour individual sessions and self-hypnosis audio recordings for daily mindfulness. Results indicated excellent feasibility, determined by participant satisfaction, treatment adherence (84% compliance rate), and low rate of adverse events (4.5%). There were significant differences between the MH and control groups postintervention, with the mindful hypnotherapy intervention resulting in significant and large decrease in perceived distress, p < .001, 15.35 (1.54), Hedge's g = − 1.14, and increase in mindfulness, p < .001, 50.07 (2.04), Hedge's g = 1.36. This study indicates that MH is a feasible intervention for stress reduction and increasing mindfulness.

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