Welcome to the 22nd WCP Congress Program Scheduling

Abstract Body

Mindfulness, does it work and how?

Dr. Yongyud Wongpiromsarn

Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) have recently got great interest in the west. Actually, mindfulness based therapies are not new, after WWII Morita and Naikan therapies developed in Japan have widespread across the world. Some famous therapies use mindfulness as part of their therapies such as Dialectic Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Western mindfulness based interventions esp. Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) including Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and other MBIs later developed are focused mainly on mindfulness. Thai MBTC use both advantages of western that are evidence based, secular, non religion approach as well as our long experiences in mind development.

Most MBIs are 8 weeks group therapies, but Clients need to practice outside the class. It includes training of tranquility, mindfulness in activities mindfulness of emotions and thought and mindful compassion.

Researches show that MBI are effective not only in treatment of depression and prevention of its relapse, PTSD, alcohol and drug addiction, but also in most NCDs.

There are many evidences on mindfulness and brain executive function that allows better control of thoughts and emotions and decrease amygdala activities help less negative thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness training caused increased activation in areas involved in the focus of attention (dorsolateral PFC) and in the left caudate/anterior insula involved in attention and corporeal awareness. Mindfulness also decreased activation of the “default mode” network (rostral PFC), consistent with the ability trained by mindfulness of reducing spontaneous mind wandering