Mindfulness, psychological flexibility and their relationship with psychopathology in persons with schizophrenia-spectrum-disorders and healthy controls - A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Summary

People with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) report lower mindfulness and psychological flexibility than healthy controls. Among 43 SSD patients and 43 controls, higher mindfulness was linked to greater psychological flexibility, anticipatory pleasure, and behavioral activation, and to fewer depressive and negative symptoms. Psychological flexibility was associated with lower depressive and negative symptoms and more anticipatory pleasure and behavioral activation. The findings suggest that interventions targeting mindfulness and psychological flexibility may help reduce amotivational symptoms in SSD.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The precise nature of the relationship between mindfulness, psychological flexibility (PF) and psychopathology in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) remains largely unclear and warrants further investigation. We recruited 43 persons with SSD and 43 controls. Our findings revealed that SSD showed lower mindfulness and PF than controls. Mindfulness was associated with higher PS, anticipatory pleasure, behavioral activation, and lower depressive and negative symptoms. PS was associated with lower depressive and negative symptoms and higher anticipatory pleasure and behavioral activation. The outcomes imply that targeting mindfulness and PF may prove beneficial in alleviating the amotivational psychopathology exhibited in SSD.