Mindfulness: A New Paradigm of Psychosocial Care in the Palliative Care Setting in Southeast Asia.

Mindfulness: A New Paradigm of Psychosocial Care in the Palliative Care Setting in Southeast Asia. Ann Acad Med Singapore. 2017 Sep;46(9):339-346 Authors: Tan SB, Capelle DP, Zainal NZ, Lim EJ, Loh EC, Lam CL Abstract Alleviation of suffering in palliative care needs a combination of good symptom control and psychosocial care. The capacity of mindfulness to promote psychological flexibility opens up possibilities of creating a paradigm shift that can potentially change the landscape of psychosocial care. In this review, we attempt to introduce 4 methods to establish mindfulness based on 'The Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness', a core text of Theravada Buddhism, followed by a brief comparison of the concepts and practices of mindfulness in different cultures and religions in Southeast Asia. Next, 2 mindfulness-based interventions specifically designed for palliative psychosocial care - mindfulness-based supportive therapy (MBST) and mini-mindfulness meditation (MMM) are introduced. We hypothesise that mindful practices, tailored to the palliative setting, can promote positive psychosocial outcomes. PMID: 29022034 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Ann Acad Med Singapore Source Type: research