Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Schizophrenia

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) consist of short and structured intervention protocols focused on teaching patients the use of mindfulness for therapeutic purposes. Over the last three decades, there has been a remarkable expansion of this kind of interventions for the treatment of various psychopathological conditions. Despite this, MBIs have only recently begun to be applied in the treatment of people with schizophrenia. Analysis of the available evidence on MBIs for the treatment of people with this disorder suggests that they are effective and safe treatments, although more research is needed to draw more robust conclusions. 
 

years, mindfulness has been extended for therapeutic purposes to other health conditions, mainly due to its beneficial effect on people who present psychopathological profiles and somatic diseases . This expansion has taken place through the implementation of several intervention protocols included under the umbrella term "mindfulness-based interventions" (MBIs).
Amongst the MBIs one can find two seminal protocols , Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) . Both are widely used and have remarkable empirical support .
There is also a broad set of protocols that have been developed from MBSR and MBCT protocols for specific therapeutic purposes. Such protocols usually introduce variations regarding MBSR and MBCT in aspects such as program structure or pedagogical content. However, all MBIs have, as a common point, the systematic training in meditation practices for the development of mindfulness, which is at the heart of the intervention . Other distinctive aspects of MBIs have to do with the way they are administered: usually in group format and through one or more teachers who are not necessarily therapists or mental health professionals . These aspects differentiate MBIs from other therapies-the so-called acceptance-based approaches-in which mindfulness is used as a tool to promote psychological acceptance, but no systematic use of meditation practices is made . This is the case with the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or the Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) , in which mindfulness is taught primarily using short exercises and informal practices which consist of daily activities with a focus on the present moment.
The popularity of MBIs has increased exponentially over the last 30 years, alongside the volume of research conducted on their effectiveness in the treatment of different psychological conditions . Nevertheless, evidence regarding their applicability in schizophrenia is still scarce. This is possibly partly due to a cautious reaction to a few Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) consist of short and structured intervention protocols focused on teaching patients the use of mindfulness for therapeutic purposes. Over the last three decades, there has been a remarkable expansion of this kind of interventions for the treatment of various psychopathological conditions.
Despite this, MBIs have only recently begun to be applied in the treatment of people with schizophrenia. Analysis of the available evidence on MBIs for the treatment of people with this disorder suggests that they are effective and safe treatments, although more research is needed to draw more robust conclusions.

Introduction
[3] [5] [6][7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] Encyclopedia 2020 doi: 10.32545/encyclopedia202007.0017.v2 1 early research papers, which found a relationship between meditation practice and the emergence of psychotic-type symptoms . These publications reported that extended periods of meditation practiced over several consecutive Current evidence suggests that MBIs are safe for people with schizophrenia, at least when applied through structured protocols, in group settings and short-term practices. Furthermore, evidence suggests that they are effective treatments for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders when used as adjuvant to TAU. As a consequence, they may in the near future become one of the chosen psychosocial approaches to treat people with psychosis, together with the interventions currently recommended in clinical guides.
However, it is also clear that the empirical evidence available at present is scarce; it is, therefore, necessary to conduct further studies that meet quality methodological standards in order to draw sound conclusions on the effectiveness of MBIs. The results so far are promising.