MINDFULNESS – BASED STRESS REDUCTION IN PSYCHIATRY

Abstract

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), developed by Kabat-Zinn in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is a structured 8-week program. It has evolved from a complementary intervention for chronic pain into a widely researched psychotherapeutic modality with demonstrated efficacy across a range of psychiatric disorders. MBSR consists of body-scan meditation, mindful yoga and sitting meditation. Previous neurobiological studies have demonstrated that MBSR produces measurable changes in amygdala reactivity, prefrontal cortical activity, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulation. Various clinical evidence support its use in anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, and somatic symptom disorders. This chapter reviews the structure, mechanisms, clinical applications, evidence base, and limitations of MBSR within psychiatric practice. It also highlights future direction for integration into standard care.