Mindfulness and visible skin conditions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mindfulness and psychosocial distress in visible skin conditions
IRAS ID
147184
Contact name
Kerry Montgomery
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Sheffield,
Research summary
Visible skin conditions can be associated with psychosocial distress (All Parliamentary Group on Skin, 2013) and negative reactions from others in social situations (Thompson, Clarke, Newell & Gawkridger, 2010). Despite both physical and psychological consequences, there are few interventions targeting the cognitive processes underlying social anxiety (Lavda, Webb & Thompson 2012). The majority of interventions for social anxiety are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT); however, there are a significant number of patients who do not respond positively to CBT, highlighting a need for further development of interventions.
Studies have suggested that mindfulness may be a promising approach to the treatment of social anxiety (Herbert & Cardiacotto, 2005. Self-focused attention and rumination play a pivotal role in maintaining the disorder (Clark & Wells, 1995) and mindfulness interventions teach people to experience thoughts as transient mental events rather than objective truths. Approaching thoughts in this way allows individuals to recognise and disengage from negative thinking and ruminative processes.
This research will comprise of two related studies. Study 1 will be a cross-sectional survey of individuals experiencing visible skin conditions to examine the relationship between mindfulness and psychosocial distress. Study 2 will involve qualitative interviews to investigate the social experience of individuals with visible skin conditions, exploring how the reality of a visible condition impacts on cognitive processing in social situations. Interviews will be analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis.
The results will inform the development of a mindfulness-based intervention to target psychosocial distress associated with visible skin conditions.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/0156
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion