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Loving‐kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Johnson David P.,
Penn David L.,
Fredrickson Barbara L.,
Meyer Piper S.,
Kring Ann M.,
Brantley Mary
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.20591
Subject(s) - meditation , anhedonia , psychology , psychotherapist , kindness , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , schizophrenia spectrum , clinical psychology , intervention (counseling) , negative symptom , mindfulness , psychiatry , psychosis , philosophy , theology
In this article, we describe the clinical applicability of loving‐kindness meditation (LKM) to individuals suffering from schizophrenia‐spectrum disorders with persistent negative symptoms. LKM may have potential for reducing negative symptoms such as anhedonia, avolition, and asociality while enhancing factors consistent with psychological recovery such as hope and purpose in life. Case studies will illustrate how to conduct this group treatment with clients with negative symptoms, the potential benefits to the client, and difficulties that may arise. Although LKM requires further empirical support, it promises to be an important intervention since there are few treatments for clients afflicted with negative symptoms. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 65: 1–11, 2009.