Volume 197 - Issue 2
Mindfulness training: an adjunctive role in the management of chronic illness?
Author: Jonathan P Page
Med J Aust 2012; 197 (2): 93. || doi: 10.5694/mja12.10901
Published online: 16 July 2012
Published online: 16 July 2012
To the Editor: Monshat and Castle have summarised the current state of play of mindfulness as an important component of the integrated management of chronic disease.
So too medical students experience significant acute and chronic psychological disturbance, which impacts on their professional performance and personal life, as well as increasing their risk of substance misuse and suicidality.2 Strangely, in this respect, students and doctors have much ...
To the Editor: Monshat and Castle have summarised the current state of play of mindfulness as an important component of the integrated management of chronic disease.1
So too medical students experience significant acute and chronic psychological disturbance, which impacts on their professional performance and personal life, as well as increasing their risk of substance misuse and suicidality.2 Strangely, in this respect, students and doctors have much in common with their chronically ill patients, although differing at times in the details. It is partly through this shared experience of suffering, when recognised clearly, that deep compassion arises — a quality so important in medical practice.3 As with chronically ill patients, the instruction of mindfulness training through meditation can reduce the distress of medical students, and thereby improve performance, reduce errors, improve communication and ultimately improve quality of life.4,5 Clearly, there is a role for further careful research in this area. For these reasons, the introduction of mindfulness training and associated techniques to the medical curriculum (and to the culture of hospitals and community health services) is of particular importance, creating an atmosphere of greater kindness and humanity, which will benefit students, doctors and their patients.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Monshat K, Castle DJ. Mindfulness training: an adjunctive role in the management of chronic illness? Med J Aust 2012; 196: 569-571. link1
- Schwenk TL, Davis L, Wimsatt LA. Depression, stigma, and suicidal ideation in medical students. JAMA 2010; 304: 1181-1190. 0_i1142866
- Tirch DD. Mindfulness as a context for the cultivation of compassion. Int J Cogn Ther 2010; 3: 113-123. 0_i1142868
- Warnecke E, Quinn S, Ogden K, et al. A randomised controlled trial of the effects of mindfulness practice on medical student stress levels. Med Educ 2011; 45: 381-388. 0_CBBIFAIG
- Hassed C, de Lisle S, Sullivan G, Pier C. Enhancing the health of medical students: outcomes of an integrated mindfulness and lifestyle program. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract 2009; 14: 387-398. 0_CBBIAIDC