The effects of mindfulness-based interventions in COVID-19 times: a systematic review

Authors

  • Dara Fernanda Brito Duarte Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte – FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.
  • Jaiany Rodrigues Libório Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte – FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.
  • Giovana Macêdo Egídio Cavalcante Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte – FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.
  • Taysa Leite de Aquino Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte – FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.
  • Larissa de Carvalho Bezerra Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte – FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.
  • Ana Luíza de Aguiar Rocha Martin Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte – FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.
  • João Victor Rodrigues de Lacerda Residente em Psiquiatria da Infância e Adolescência do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade de São Paulo – USP, São Paulo, Brasil
  • Vitor Friary Psicólogo Clínica Licenciado, Formador MBCT e Supervisor do Centro de Mindfulness no Brasil. Professor Convidado do Programa de Residência em Psiquiatria Geral do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
  • Juliane dos Anjos de Paula Professora do curso de medicina da Disciplina de Saúde Mental da Faculdade de Medicina de Juazeiro do Norte - FMJ/ESTACIO, Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36311/jhgd.v32.13313

Keywords:

mindfulness, coronavirus infections, systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: the public health crisis caused by COVID-19, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has imposed physical threats and psychological suffering on both infected patients and individuals who experience social isolation and various governmental restrictions, leading to the appearance of symptoms like anxiety, depression, as well as insomnia, stress, and changes in biological rhythm. In face of this stressful scenario, interventions based on mindfulness (MBIs) have proved to be potentially adequate tools in reducing psychological suffering and generating well-being in the general population.

Objective: to describe the effects of mindfulness-based interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted on the effects of mindfulness intervention in times of COVID-19. The articles were searched in four databases (Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Science direct) and the PRISMA protocol was used to conduct this review. In total, fourteen articles were included in the study.

Results: the use of mindfulness techniques in the population with impaired mental health because of the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be beneficial, with improvement in emotional stress scores and reduction in anxiety symptoms, through formal mindfulness meditation practices such as mindful breathing, body scanning, and application of the mindfulness-based stress reduction strategy (MBSR). Strategies were also applied through smartphone applications that had the objective of promoting the increase of mindfulness and the development of the acceptance without judgment of the traumatic experiences already lived, in addition to an integrated intervention on the internet with the use of mindfulness, the training of respiratory relaxation, refuge skills and Butterfly Hug Method.

Conclusion: with the pandemic going through, still with high mortality, continuity of social isolation, and, consequently, intensification of psychic suffering in the population and health professionals, interventions based on mindfulness (MBIs) are being effective to reduce this suffering, prevent the appearance of of chronic mental disorders and promote positive impacts on physical and mental well-being.

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Published

2022-06-23

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 2 (2022)

Section

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Duarte DFB, Libório JR, Cavalcante GME, de Aquino TL, Bezerra LC, Martin ALAR, Lacerda JVR, Friary V, de Paula JA

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.