Stress Management Professional An International Journal

Vol.2, No.2, JULY - DECEMBER 2014

13

stress reduction programs are useful interventions for

relating to it. During mindfulness training, patients are

patients with various medical and psychological

helped to shift from a focus on the past and on the

symptoms (Nehra, Sharma et al., 2012 a,b, 2013a,b;

future (conditioned by memories and rumination) to a

2014). Despite some inconclusive results about the

focus on the present moment, developing a process of

effects of psychological interventions on medical

decentering and dis-identification from personal

outcomes in heart disease, the literature supports the

experience (Segal, Williams, Teasdale, 2002). In CBT,

efficacy of psychological interventions in attenuating

therapist encourages their patients to adopt the

stress and enhancing quality of life (Linden, 2000).

empirical problem solving approach of scientists, and

Some meta-analyses suggest that psychosocial

the therapist serves as a role model for their patients

interventions can affect psychosocial targets (Van

by instilling self-efficacy, enthusiasm and hopefulness

Dixhoorn& White, 2005). The aim of such interventions

about the challenging work of changing maladaptive

is not to replace medical treatment but to be used as a

cognitions (Knapp & Beck, 2008) by systematic

vitally important complement to it, to improve

desensitization through the induction of

patients' quality of life and to reduce psychological

symptoms/thoughts during the intervention. While,

distress, which in theory would ultimately improve

in mindfulness training the intervention focuses on

clinical outcomes. Different types of psychological

the meditation practice itself rather than on specific

interventions with CHD patients have been reported

symptoms. Although not intentionally evoked, when

in the world literature. Two most impor tant

a stressful sensation or thought arises, either during

psychological interventions, namely, CBT/SIT and

formal meditation or in the course of daily living,

MBSR are reported to be effective at reducing stress,

patients are encouraged to see it as opportunities to

anxiety and depression (Nehra, Sharma, Kumar,

engage in mindful coping strategies, to observe the

Nehra, 2012a,b). Although both the interventions

thoughts, emotions and sensations as they arise and

have shown their effectiveness but there have been

disappear, and to act instead of react according to

some fundamental differences in both the

habitual and thoroughly ingrained cognitive and

intervention programs.

behavioral patterns (as cited in Goldin, 2001). So,

MBSR make the patient aware about the effects of

CBT is rooted in Western psychology and medicine

mindless constant activity ('automatic pilot') on their

and focuses on changing thoughts and feelings.

body, emotions, thoughts, and how they react to

MBSR draws upon Eastern Buddhist traditions and

events(Kabat-Zinn, 1990). In addition it teaches

emphasizes the acceptance of the full range of one's

people to observe negative thoughts without

inner experience (Smith, Shelley et al.,2008). In CBT,

changing their content, thus, relating towards them in

emphasis is placed on positive, negative, or faulty

a new way. Through engaging in this approach, clients

thoughts and focuses more on changing the content

begin to disengage from dysfunctional cognitive

of thoughts (Segal, Teasdale, Williams, 2004). Whereas

routines that often serve as a gateway to relapsing

in mindfulness based interventions, the emphasis is

back into depression and other problems (Segal,

on identifying thoughts as just thoughts, whether

Teasdale, Williams, 2004). CBT is found to be more

they are positive or negative. Unlike standard CBT, in

effective in reducing anxiety (anxious arousal)

mindfulness-based interventions the main goal is not

whereas MBSR found to be effective in reducing worry

to change the content of the patient's system of

and comorbid disorders(Arch, Ayers et al.,2013).

cognitions but rather to change his or her way of

Experts also claimed that SIT does not