Research Tables
EFFICACY OF MINDFULNESS WITH INCARCERATED POPULATIONS
SOURCE: Samuelson, M., Carmody, J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Bratt, M.A., (2007). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Massachusetts Correctional Facilities. The Prison Journal, Volume 87 Number 2 June 2007, 254-268
TAKE-HOME: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program significantly improves self-reported hostility, self-esteem, and mood disturbance levels for 1,350 inmates incarcerated in 5 Massachusetts prisons.
EXCERPTS: “Depending on each institution’s overall program schedule,class sessions varied from 1 to 1.5 hours. In some cases,where individual classes were shorter, two sessions were held per week. Course lengths varied from 6 to 8 weeks. In no case was there an opportunity for the all-day retreat or intensive experience. Opportunities for independent daily meditation practice outside of class were minimal,and shared cells and other constraints of prison life limited the ability to practice alone and in relative quiet.”
“Given the fact that a prison environment can be a very hostile environment, the demonstration of significantly decreased hostility scores in the 6% to 9% range following participation in an MBSR program in these correctional settings is encouraging.”
“The significant post-MBSR course improvements (Table 3) in self-esteem provide encouragement that this dimension can also be improved for incarcerated individuals through training in mindfulness meditation.”
“The improvements in TMD [Profile of Mood States Scale] reported here (38.5% for women and 28.4% for men) are striking and suggest that the affective state of these inmates can be improved substantially by participation in an MBSR program.”
“…the finding that the improvements associated with participation in the program in this setting were maintained for an additional 6 to 8 weeks in the stressful correctional institution environment holds promise for the longer-term endurance of the effects of MBSR programs in supporting inmates in these settings.”
SOURCE: Marlatt, G.A., Witkiewitz, K., Dillworth, T.M., Bowen, S.W., Parks, G.A., MacPherson, L.M., Lonczak, H.S., Larimer, M.E., Simpson, T., Blume, A.W., Crutcher, R. (2004). Vipassana Meditation as a Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders. Mindfulness and Acceptance, Guilford Press, 2004, 261-283
TAKE-HOME: 10-Day Vipassana course has dramatic impact post-course and at 3-month post-course interval on emotional well-being and substance abuse profile of incarcerated adults with substance use profiles.
EXCERPTS: “Many of the findings from these studies suggest that meditation results in neurological changes that are associated with increased levels of alertness, relaxation, attentional control, and reduced readiness for action.”
“The neurobiological findings support the hypothesis that meditation enhances awareness and the cultivation of alternatives to mindless, compulsive behavior.”
“The positive findings…lend support for the generalizability of Vipassana as an intervention for substance use and psychiatric disorders for both incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals.”
“…provides further evidence for the applicability of Vipassana as a low-cost alternative to current systems of addiction treatment.”
“Cognitive-behavioral approaches and interventions based on the Minnesota model [AA] are primarily focused on reducing substance use, whereas Vipassana appears to influence more metacognitive processes, which may have broader and more long-term effects.”
“A combination of mindfulness training coupled with a therapy program (individual or group format) designed to help clients apply meditation to their personal problems may be more effective than a more generic approach, such as the Vipassana course.”
SOURCE: Bowen, S., Witkiewitz, K., Dillworth, T.M., Chawla, N., Simpson, T.L., Ostafin, B.D., Larimer, M.E., Blume, A.W., Parks, G.A., Marlatt, G.A. (2006). Mindfulness Meditation and Substance Use in an Incarcerated Population. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol.20, No.3., 343-347
TAKE-HOME: After release from jail, participants in Vipassana course show significant reductions in alchohol, marijuana, and crack cocaine use.
EXCERPTS: “We found that individuals who participated in the Vipassana course reported significantly lower levels of psychiatric symptoms, more internal alcohol-related locus of control, and higher levels of optimism.”
“VM participants showed decreases in alcohol-related problems and psychiatric symptoms as well as increases in positive psychosocial outcomes.”
“Residents who participated in VM reported significantly less use of each of these substances [alcohol, marijuana, crack cocaine] and significantly fewer alcohol-related negative consequences 3 months following release from NRF.”
