MiCBT Research

The differential effects of three mindfulness techniques: Mindfulness of breath, body-scan and everyday mindfulness.
University of Tasmania, School of Psychology (MA research project) 

Marise Fallon's Master Thesis, at the University of Tasmania, will investigate 3 important aspects of mindfulness training; mindfulness of breath (MOB), body scanning (BS) and informal practice (IP) of mindfulness in daily actions. An important and yet unanswered question is the differential benefits that each of these techniques produce. The study promises to help clarify what best mechanisms of action should be emphasised during training. Marise will need all the mindfulness meditation-naive participants she can get and your help in attending or referring someone will be greatly valued. The study will involve free attendance to an 8-week mindfulness course, as delivered in the standard MiCBT program, but excluding the CBT techniques usually integrated with Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. Contact:mlfallon@postoffice.utas.edu.au

Submitted by: Marise Fallon

Supervisor: Dr Bruno Cayoun

Co-supervisor: Dr Greg Hannan

Measuring Mindfulness in Clinical Populations: A study of the Mindfulness Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES)
Swinburne University & MiCBT Institute 

Researcher: Sally Francis

This study (N = 163) is part of a larger (MA) research project assessing various self-report measures of mindfulness; the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (Buchheld, Grossman, Wallach, 2001), the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (Brown & Ryan, 2003), the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (Baer, Smith & Allen, 2004), and the Mindfulness Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES) (Cayoun & Freestun, 2003), and measures of well being. The MSES was specifically designed to measure the effects of mindfulness in clinical populations. This, and another study (N = 1250), found that the MSES has high internal consistency (Chronbach Alpha = .86) and correlates well with the three other measures of mindfulness. A survey of a community sample (N = 101) also showed that the MSES clearly differentiates clinical from non-clinical samples. The MSES is a valid and reliable measure of the self-efficacy associated with mindfulness training in clinical populations. A research article is currently being completed by Sally Francis and Bruno Cayoun and will be sent for publication by August 2009.

Clinicians and researchers interested in the research can contact the principal author:Sally Francis

The Effects of Mindfulness-integrated CBT (MiCBT) on Drugs and Alcohol Addiction
University of Tasmania, School of Psychology (MA research project) 

This is a randomised controlled trial investigating the efficacy of the 8-week MiCBT group program in 60 people seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addictions. The study will take place in a residential setting where traditional relapse prevention protocols are being implemented in Burnie, north of the Tasmanian state. The study will compare addiction and well being measures in 3 groups: Treatment-as-usual, Treatment-as-usual + MiCBT, and MiCBT alone. Testing will commence in October 2009 and should be completed end of 2010.

Principal Researcher: Kylie Wickham
Supervised by: Dr Bruno Cayoun

Clinicians and researchers interested in the research can contact Bruno Cayoun

The Effects of Mindfulness-integrated CBT (MiCBT) in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
MiCBT Institute, Tasmania  
(Clinical Research)

Bruno Cayoun is continually collecting single case data during the implementation of the MiCBT treatment model for children with ADHD and anxiety disorders. So far, the main observations are that children who are able to increase experiential awareness and acceptance also improve on measures of executive functions, especially inhibitory control. This research may provide a valuable behavioural method to assist in the treatment of ADHD.

Parents interested for their children to participate in this research can contact Bruno Cayoun (or mobile phone: 0422 685 008).

The Relationship between Social Cognition and Mindfulness Meditation
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 
(PhD Social research)

Principal Researcher: Matthew Hunsinger
Supervised by: Dr Linda Isbell

Linda Isbell and Matthew Hunsinger are in the process of conducting research on the relationship between social cognition and mindfulness meditation. This study is part of  We are examining the influence of mindfulness practice on stereotyping. This research will provide information on the relationship between affect and stereotyping.

The study also provided valuable psychometric data for the Mindfulness Self-Efficacy Scale (MSES), used for the measurement of the consequences of mindfulness training in clinical samples.

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Hunsinger or Linda Isbell

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Piloting a new program for psychology interns
Psychology Clinic,
University of New South Wales, Australia(Pilot study)

Alice Shires (Clinic Director) and Bruno Cayoun prepared an MiCBT training program for clinical psychology students undertaking their internship at the University Psychology Clinic of the University of NSW and for their supervisors. This is the first MiCBT training program formally provided by an Australian university to its clinical psychology students. The pilot program will provide data from student and their supervisors regarding their relationship with clients, the results they obtain in therapy, and their own wellbeing as clinicians dealing with daily stressors. Staff from other universities interested in more information about this initiative or needing support with the inclusion of MiCBT in their own service can contact us.

Principal Researcher: Alice Shires
Training Provider: Bruno Cayoun

MiCBT group Program for People with a Gambling Addiction
Relationships Australia, Tasmania
(Clinical research)

Bruno Cayoun conducted an 8-week MiCBT group program for people with a gambling addiction at Relationships Australia, Tasmania, in February 2006. It was found that about half the sample experienced some form of unresolved trauma and about 25% of the sample had a primary diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Unpublished data show that the MiCBT program was found to reduce the addiction to gambling.

MiCBT for Children with Anxiety Disorders
Psychology Centre & MiCBT Institute, Tasmania
(Clinical research)

Bruno Cayoun implemented a 10-week MiCBT treatment model for children, adaptated from the 8-week MiCBT program for adults, with a 10 year-old girl with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This served to further pilot the model for children. The case study data was presented at the 2006 Conference of the APS and NZPsS in Auckland, New Zealand. It may provide a valuable method to assist in the treatment of GAD in children. The entire program delivery was filmed and compiled into a 2-hour long DVD which is used for educational purposes.