Mindfulness has been widely researched in mental, physical health, and healthy populations. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions have also been demonstrated in research studies. This report reviews the research on mindfulness based interventions currently employed for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mindfulness-based theories postulate that symptoms of PTSD are developed and maintained by experiential avoidance and non-mindful behaviors. Recent emerging work indicates that mindfulness based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, may improve the symptoms of PTSD. Further advances are needed to gain a better understanding of the ability of mindfulness based interventions to target specific symptom dimensions of PTSD and the psychological/neurobiological mechanisms of actions underlying these interventions.

Objective : The present study examined the effectiveness of the mindful self-compassion (MSC) program on anxiety, depression, self-compassion and emotion regulation. Methods : A total of 29 subjects (mean age 27.5±6.5 years, 15 males and 14 females) participated in a standardized 8-week MSC program. The control group consisted of age- and sex-matched twenty participants (mean age 26.0±2.9 years, 11 males and 9 females). All subjects completed self-report measurements at two weeks before and after the MSC program. Results : MSC training improved self-compassion as demonstrated by the significant group x time interaction effects on the total Self-Compassion Scale scores (F[1, 47]=8.324, p<0.01). Regarding the subscale scores, a significant improvement in self-kindness, isolation and mindfulness components of self-compassion was observed after MSC training. A significant group x time interaction was observed on the self-kindness subscale (F[1, 47]=4.664, p<0.05), with a significant main effect of time (F[1, 47]=23.723, p<0.001). The isolation subscale showed a significant group x time interaction (F[1, 47]=8.698, p<0.001). For the mindfulness subscale, there was a significant group x time interaction (F[1, 47]=6.611, p<0.05) and main effect of time (F[1, 47]=6.611, p<0.05). MSC training also improved the acceptance emotion regulation strategy, as demonstrated by the significant group x time interaction in the acceptance subscale scores of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (F[1, 47]=6.845, p<0.05). Conclusion : MSC training showed efficacy in fostering self-compassion and improving emotion regulation. Thus, this program might be applicable to improve mental health.

Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and its association with psychological factors in patients with hypertension. Methods : The Participants included 124 patients with hypertension. Anxiety symptoms were evaluated by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Socio-demographics, perceived stress, state-trait anger, life satisfaction, and ego resiliency were assessed. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were carried out to examine the impact of perceived stress, state-trait anger, and life satisfaction on anxiety symptoms. In addition, moderated regression analysis was performed to explore the moderating effect of ego resiliency between perceived stress and anxiety symptoms. Results : A total of 17 subjects (13.7%) were identified as having anxiety symptoms. Higher perceived stress and state-trait anger, and lower life satisfaction were found to be significant correlates of anxiety symptoms. In the final model, higher levels of perceived stress (β=0.378, p<0.001) and trait anger (β=0.320, p<0.001) were related to higher levels of anxiety symptoms, while a higher level of life satisfaction (β=-0.166, p=0.025) was associated with a lower level of anxiety symptoms. Further, ego resiliency buffered the negative effect of perceived stress on anxiety symptoms. Conclusion : This study demonstrated the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and associated psychological factors among patients with hypertension. Our findings suggest that improving life satisfaction and ego-resiliency as well as controlling stress and anger may be important in the management of anxiety symptoms in patients with hypertension.

Objective : The levels of resilience and gratitude were examined in psychiatric patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders and compared to those of the general population. In addition, we analyzed the associations of positive affect, negative affect, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and gratitude on resilience in this patient population. Methods : The participants included a general population sample (n=155) and psychiatric outpatients with depression and/or anxiety disorders (n=108). All participants completed self-report questionnaires, which included demographic variables, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Gratitude Questionnaire-Six-Item Form (GQ-6), the Positive Affect Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results : The CD-RISC and GQ-6 scores of patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders were significantly lower than those of the general population. In the patient population, hierarchical regression analysis showed that gratitude was significantly associated with resilience while controlling for a range of demographic and clinical variables. Conclusion : Patients with depression and/or anxiety disorder generally had lower resilience and gratitude. Moreover, our findings showed that gratitude could influence the levels of resilience in patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders.

Objective : Impaired working memory has been known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with growing evidence. Delayed matching-to-sample task (DMST) is a working memory task which have an advantage in analyzing several different working memory processes in one task. However, most of the studies have failed to reveal the working memory impairment with the DMST. The aim of this study was to identify whether working memory deficit in OCD can be evaluated with the DMST. Methods : The participants included 20 OCD patients and 20 healthy volunteers. Working memory was evaluated with the DMST with two different working memory loads. Accuracy of response and mean response time were measured. Results : OCD patients showed a significantly longer reaction time and lower accuracy in DMST compared to healthy controls in the task with high working memory loads. Moreover, the difference in accuracy showed interaction with the working memory load. Conclusion : The present results indicate that working memory deficit in patients with OCD can be evaluated with the DMST. The findings also suggest that previous negative behavioral results using the DMST were from low working memory load of the task.