Mindfulness and Neurobehavioural functioning Version 1.1/7.2.2014
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does improving mindfulness impact on neurobehavioural functioning?
IRAS ID
143368
Contact name
Shruti Niraj
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Research summary
The main aim of the study is to contribute to the available evidence regarding the use of mindfulness techniques with people with brain injury.
The research suggests that mindfulness based interventions, when used with the general population, can lead to improved: cognitive functioning; regulation of attention and improved affect. A recent systematic review of neurological findings has revealed, that mindfulness training and practice can also enhance working memory capacity and some executive functions. Even though the use of mindfulness approaches in clinical psychology have received a lot of attention within the last 10 years, there are only a few studies reporting the use of mindfulness in patients with brain injury.
Participants of the proposed pilot study will be recruited from patients referred to a Mindfulness Group at the local rehabilitation service that includes individual therapy sessions and group based rehabilitation interventions for people with acquired brain injury (ABI).
The proposed design of the research consists of a quantitative and a qualitative part. The aim of the quantitative study is to answer the question: Is improvement in mindfulness skills related to improvement in neurobehavioural functioning? This may help us to understand whether subjectively reported improvements in mindfulness skills can be measured and whether they are related to improved everyday living problems, symptoms and functioning in those areas that are typically affected by brain injury. The relationship between mindfulness and neurobehavioural functioning will be investigated using correlational analysis with a pre and post comparison.
The qualitative part of the study will attempt to find the answer to the question: How do people with ABI make sense of what is useful about mindfulness? This may reveal common themes underlying the process of mindfulness and thus can contribute to the wider debate about the mechanisms of mindfulness and how it might bring about changes in everyday functioning. In this part of the study, the participants will be asked to use a voice recorder to record their experiences while using mindfulness in their everyday lives at home between the sessions. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis will be used to analyse their recordings and identify common themes. The authors are not aware of any qualitative research done in the area of mindfulness and brain injury so far.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0106
Date of REC Opinion
12 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion