Responding mindfully to distressing psychosis: A grounded theory analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Mindfulness Studies

Background:

• Distressing psychosis, including auditory hallucinations and intrusive thoughts, significantly impacts individuals' quality of life.
• Mindfulness-based interventions show promise in managing psychological distress.
• Understanding the psychological processes underlying mindfulness in psychosis is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological process of learning mindful responses to distressing psychotic sensations.
• To develop a grounded theory explaining how individuals with psychosis relate differently to their experiences through mindfulness.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory methodology was employed.
• Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 participants post-mindfulness group program.
• Systematic methods linking data collection and analysis were used to generate the theory.

Main Results:

• A three-stage process of relating differently to psychosis was identified.
• Stage 1: Centering in awareness of psychosis.
• Stage 2: Allowing psychotic sensations to pass without reaction.
• Stage 3: Reclaiming power through acceptance of psychosis and self.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a novel theory on the psychological process of mindful acceptance in psychosis.
• Findings suggest that acceptance and non-reactivity are key to managing psychotic experiences.
• The theory offers potential conceptual and clinical applications for psychosis treatment.