Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alexithymia: a systematic review
Norman, Hilary, Marzano, Lisa 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9735-3512, Coulson, Mark and Oskis, Andrea ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0194-2679
(2018)
Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alexithymia: a systematic review.
Evidence-Based Mental Health
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ISSN 1362-0347
[Article]
(Published online first)
(doi:10.1136/ebmental-2018-300029)
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Abstract
Question: Alexithymia has been found to be modifiable through treatment, with associated clinical benefits. Recent studies have begun to test the potential of mindfulness-based interventions to reduce alexithymia, using skills-based, group training to improve non-judgmental, present moment awareness. The objective of this review therefore was to conduct a systematic synthesis to assess the current state of knowledge about the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on alexithymia to inform clinical practice.
Study Selection and Analysis: We carried out a systematic review of the literature and found four randomised controlled trials of the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on alexithymia, with a combined total of 460 participants.
Findings: A random effects meta-analysis, combining study endpoint data, showed a statistically significant effect of mindfulness-based treatment on alexithymia, (Toronto Alexithymia Scale [TAS20]) compared with the control group (mean difference = -5.28, 95% CI -9.28 to -1.28, p=0.010). Subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate sources of heterogeneity (I2=52%). Heterogeneity was reduced when the meta-analysis was restricted to interventions of a similar duration (three months or less).
Conclusions: Findings from our study should be replicated in further research with larger samples; however, the results indicate that mindfulness-based interventions may be an effective treatment in reducing alexithymia.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Research Areas: | A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology |
| Item ID: | 24516 |
| Notes on copyright: | This article has been accepted for publication in Evidence-Based Mental Health, 2018 following peer review, and the Version of Record can be accessed online at DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2018-300029 |
| Useful Links: | |
| Depositing User: | Lisa Marzano |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Jul 2018 15:55 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Nov 2022 19:43 |
| URI: | https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/24516 |
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