Effectiveness of Four Deconstructive Meditative Practices on Well-being and Self-deconstruction

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Mental Health Wellness
• Interventions: Behavioral: Prostrations, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition; Behavioral: Mindful breathing; Behavioral: The mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition; Behavioral: The Koan Mu, according to Zen Buddhist tradition

• Registration Number: NCT05317754
• Lead Sponsor: Hospital Miguel Servet

Brief Summary

The efficacy of interventions based on mindfulness and compassion has been demonstrated in both clinical and general population, and in different social contexts. These interventions include so-called attentional and constructive meditation practices, respectively. However, unlike these, there is a third group, known as deconstructive meditation practices, which has not been scientifically studied. Deconstructive practices aim to undo maladaptive cognitive patterns and generate knowledge about internal models of oneself, others and the world. Although there are theoretical and philosophical studies on the origin of addiction to the self or on the mechanisms of action associated with the deconstruction of the self, there are no randomized controlled trials evaluating these techniques in either a healthy population or clinical samples. This study aims to evaluate the effect of three deconstructive techniques by comparing them to the practice of mindfulness in the general population.

A randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) will be conducted with about 240 participants allocated (1:1:1:1) to four groups: a) mindful breathing, b) prostrations, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition; c) the Koan Mu, according to Zen Buddhist tradition; and d) the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition. The primary outcome will be the qualities of the non-dual experience and spiritual awakening, measured by the Nondual Embodiment Thematic Inventory, assessed at pre and post-treatment and at 3 and 6-month follow ups. Other outcomes will be mindfulness, happiness, compassion, affectivity and altered state of consciousness. Outcomes at each time point will be compared using mixed-effects linear regression models adjusted for baseline scores, sex and age.

This is the first RCT to apply deconstructive meditation techniques to evaluate their effect on the general population. The positive results of this project may have an important impact on the development of new interventions, not only to improve happiness and well-being in healthy populations but also potentially for the prevention and treatment of psychological and medical disorders, creating a new paradigm in the context of third-generation psychological interventions.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-03-31
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-03-31
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-08
• Study Start: 2023-02-11
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-26
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-28
• Primary Completion: 2025-03-30
• Study Completion: 2025-03-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 240

Inclusion Criteria

1. Older than 18 years of age
2. No psychiatric diagnosis (self-reported)
3. More than 1 year's experience of daily meditation practice
4. Having a computer and Internet connection at home
5. Being able to read and understand the Spanish language
6. Willingness to participate in the study and sign the written informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria

1. Any diagnosis of a disease that may affect the central nervous system (pathological condition affecting the brain, traumatic brain injury, dementia) or other psychiatric diagnoses or acute psychiatric illnesses (severe range of depression, substance dependence or abuse, history of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, eating disorders), except for anxiety disorder
2. Any medical, infectious or degenerative disease that may affect mood; presence of delusional ideas; and hallucinations consistent or not with mood and suicide risk
3. Taking any psychiatric medication.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Prostrations, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition	Prostrations, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition	-
Mindful breathing	Mindful breathing	-
The mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition	The mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition	-
The Koan Mu, according to Zen Buddhist tradition	The Koan Mu, according to Zen Buddhist tradition	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The Nondual Embodiment Thematic Inventory (NETI)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group. A total score, ranging from 20 to 100, is calculated by totalling the scores from all the items, with higher scores indicating higher levels of non-dual awareness

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group. This questionnaire comprises 20 items and two independent dimensions: positive affect and negative effect. Each scale has 10 items, and the score range for each is from 10 to 50. Higher total values indicate higher level of positive affect and negative effect respectively.
The Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group
The Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group. To calculate the overall PHI index, which included remembered and experienced well-being, individuals' scores of the 11 items related to remembered well-being plus the sum of scores on the experienced well-being were summed; the total sum is then divided by 12, so the resulting PHI total mean score also ranges from 0 to 10. Higher total values indicate higher levels of well-being
Sociodemographic data gender, age, nationality, current city of residence, marital status, education and for information regarding their experience with meditation.	Baseline	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group
The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group. A total score, ranging from 39 to 195, is calculated by totalling the scores from all the items, and higher total values indicate better full mindfulness
Sussex-Oxford Compassion Scales (SOCS)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group. This scale is composed by two 20-item self-report scales measuring compassion. A total score, ranging from 20 to 100, is calculated for each scale, and higher total values indicate higher levels of compassion
Altered state of consciousness rating scale (OAV)	Six-months follow-up	In the mirror exercise, according to Toltec tradition, group. The items are scored by measuring the millimeters from the low end of the scale to the subject's mark (integers from 0-100). Higher values indicate higher perception of an altered state of consciousness.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Psychiatry. Miguel Servet University Hospital; 🇪🇸 Zaragoza, Spain