Mindfulness – en gjennomgang av kunnskapsstatus og relevans for psykologisk behandling [Mindfulness – a review of knowledge status and relevance for psychological treatment]

Abstract

Mindfulness is a non-judgmental awareness of present-moment experience. Since the turn of the 21st century, there has been increasing interest in mindfulness-based approaches in psychological treatment. This narrative review describes what this mental attitude entails and how it may be relevant in the treatment of the common mental disorders depression and anxiety. Treatment research indicates that mindfulness-based interventions reduce the risk of relapse for people with a history of recurrent depression. Such interventions also alleviate ongoing depressive symptoms for those in more acute phases of the disorder. For anxiety disorders, research indicates that mindfulness-based interventions can be as effective as other approaches in the treatment of heterogeneous anxiety disorders and generalized anxiety disorder. For other anxiety diagnoses, however, the approach is not recommended as a first-line treatment. Despite promising results, the quality of research is highly variable, with a preponderance of pilot trials and a lack of 1) studies on basic processes, 2) well-designed randomized controlled trials, and 3) research on implementation in clinical practice. There are also several unanswered questions regarding the definition and measurement of mindfulness, mechanisms of action, and potential aversive effects. Clinical implications of our current knowledge about mindfulness in psychological treatment are discussed.