Effects of Meditation Awareness Training on Psychosocial Functioning in Prison Participants

Psychosocial Functioning Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of Meditation Awareness Training on Psychosocial Functioning in Prison Participants: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01651091
• Other study ID #: MAT-30072012-T
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• First received: July 24, 2012
• Last updated: August 6, 2012
• Start date: March 2013

Study information

• Verified date: August 2012
• Source: Nottingham Trent University
• Contact: Edo Shonin
• Email: edo.shonin[@]ntu.ac.uk
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United Kingdom: Research Ethics Committee
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of an eight-week long group-based secular intervention known as Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) on psychosocial functioning in prison participants.

Description:

In Western practitioner settings, Buddhist principles are increasingly being used in the treatment of a wide range of mental health issues. However, there is a dearth of high quality research examining the effects of Buddhist-derived interventions (BDIs) on mental health in forensic settings. The purpose of this study is to assess the salutary effects and acceptability of a secularised group-based eight-week BDI known as Meditation Awareness Training (MAT) against relevant predictors of adaptive psychosocial functioning and mental health in violent offenders. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) design will be employed structured with reference to CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 guidelines. English speaking adult males (aged 18-65 years) serving indeterminate prison sentences for offences of instrumental violence at a category B prison will be invited to receive MAT on a voluntary basis. Computer-generated numbers will be used to randomly allocate prison participants (n=102 - based on statistical power calculations) to either an intervention or 'treatment as usual' (TAU) control condition. Measures will be taken pre- and post-intervention and at three-month follow-up to assess maintenance effects.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 102
• Est. primary completion date: November 2013
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult male (aged 18 to 65)

• English speaking

• Intact cognition(mini-mental status exam =23)

• Incarceration for an act of instrumental violence

• Evidence of self-harming and/or suicidal ideations and/or substance-use during the 12 months prior to the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• current participation in a program of structured psychotherapy or counselling

• any prior formal meditation training

• psychopharmacology commenced or dosage changed one-month prior to intervention (stable medication permitted)

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Psychosocial Functioning

Intervention

Other:
• Meditation Awareness Training
Psychotherapy Intervention
• Treatment as usual

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	Nottingham Trent University	Nottingham

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Nottingham Trent University	Awake to Wisdom Foundation, Serco Group Plc

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Risk of Reoffending
Secondary	Anger levels
Secondary	Self-esteem
Secondary	Substance-use locus of control
Secondary	Self-harming
Secondary	Affective mood states