Effects of Meditation Awareness Training on Psychosocial Functioning in Prison Participants

August 6, 2012 updated by: Edo Shonin, Nottingham Trent University

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

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.

Study Overview

Status

Unknown

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed 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.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

102

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United Kingdom
      • Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG1 4BU
        • Nottingham Trent University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

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 Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Meditation Awareness Training
Other: Meditation Awareness Training
Psychotherapy Intervention
Active Comparator: Treatment as Usual
Other: Treatment as usual

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Risk of Reoffending

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Anger levels
Self-esteem
Substance-use locus of control
Self-harming
Affective mood states

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Nottingham Trent University

Collaborators

Awake to Wisdom Foundation
Serco Group Plc

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

November 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 24, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 24, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

July 26, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

August 7, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2012

Last Verified

August 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • MAT-30072012-T

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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