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BMC Psychology

4 papers in the library · 93 citations · publishing 2021-2026

Papers

Brief mindfulness-based training and mindfulness trait attenuate psychological stress in university students: a randomized controlled trial

BMC Psychology February 1, 2021 Geovan Menezes de Sousa, Geissy Lainny de Lima-Araújo, Dráulio Barros de Araújo et al. 90 citations

Higher trait mindfulness is linked to lower anxiety and perceived stress in university students. A brief mindfulness training reduced anxiety state and perceived stress and increased state mindfulness, while both mindfulness and active control groups showed reduced negative affect and cortisol. Changes in state mindfulness mediated increases in positive affect and decreases in perceived stress and cortisol regardless of trait mindfulness, but anxiety reduction occurred only in those with high trait mindfulness. The results suggest that brief mindfulness interventions can help reduce psychological distress in healthy young students.

The effects of psilocybin on psychological distress in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMC Psychology January 2, 2026 Reza Moshfeghinia, Sara Mostafavi, Kimia Jazi et al. 2 citations

Psilocybin may reduce depressive symptoms in cancer patients, with mixed effects on anxiety and time-dependent improvements in spiritual well-being and, in single-arm data, quality of life. However, due to the small number of studies, high heterogeneity, challenges with blinding and expectancy, and frequent co-intervention with psychotherapy, these findings are preliminary. Larger, rigorously blinded trials are needed to determine clinical effectiveness and safety.

The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on self-compassion and parent-child relationship quality in health caregivers

BMC Psychology November 16, 2025 Tayebeh Rakhshani, Afrooz Bagherfard, Amirhossein Kamyab et al. 1 citation

A mindfulness-based stress reduction program improved self-compassion, reduced stress, and strengthened parent-child relationships among health caregivers. Forty health caregivers in Masjed Soleyman were assigned to either an eight-session mindfulness intervention or a control group. Two months after the program, the intervention group showed significantly lower stress and higher self-compassion compared to the control group, and parent-child relationship scores also improved. The findings suggest that mindfulness training can help working mothers regulate emotions and connect more positively with their children.

Mindset over molecule: comparing self-transcendent and mystical experiences across recreational psilocybin, MDMA, and cannabis use

BMC Psychology January 21, 2026 Christina Chwyl, Angelica Spata, Will Lucas et al.

Psychological context, or 'set,' is more strongly linked to the outcomes of psychedelic experiences than the specific substance used, suggesting a 'mindset-over-molecule' pattern. The findings indicate that the mental state and expectations of the user play a more influential role than the chemical properties of the drug alone.