Tamura, Noriko

写真a

Affiliation

School of Medicine, Department of Neuropsychiatry (Shinanomachi)

Position

Project Assistant Professor (Non-tenured)/Project Research Associate (Non-tenured)/Project Instructor (Non-tenured)
Page Top ▲
 

Papers 【 Display / hide 】

  • Impact of continued mindfulness practice on resilience and well-being in mindfulness-based intervention graduates during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

    Tanaka C., Wakaizumi K., Ninomiya A., Tamura N., Kosugi S., Park S., Sado M., Mimura M., Fujisawa D.

    Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports (Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports)  2 ( 3 )  2023.09

    　View Summary

    Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented stress. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are known to be effective in reducing stress. However, it is unclear how long-term outcomes differ between those who continue mindfulness practice after MBIs and those who do not. In this study, we hypothesized that those who continued mindfulness practice would have higher stress tolerance, and we examined this hypothesis through a survey of MBI graduates. In this study, we examined the association between the continuation of mindfulness practice among MBI completers and individual stress during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of MBI graduates was conducted. The physical and mental health states were compared between those who established a habit of mindfulness practice (practice group) and those who did not (no practice group). Results: The data were collected from 95 participants (response rate: 53.7%). Of the total respondents, 66 (69.5%) practiced mindfulness. Although the degree of perceived stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic was not statistically different between the practice and no practice groups, the practice group showed significantly lower levels of depression (p = 0.007), higher levels of resilience (p = 0.006), higher levels of overall health (p = 0.006), and higher levels of mental health (p = 0.039). The effect of mindfulness practice on reducing depression was fully mediated by resilience. Conclusion: Among MBI graduates, those who regularly practiced mindfulness had lower levels of depression and higher levels of physical and mental health. Thus, the continuation of mindfulness practice increases resilience, buffers against new stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and has the potential to prevent depression.

  • Group multi-component programme based on cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology for family caregivers of people with dementia: a randomised controlled study (3C study)

    Tamura N.T., Shikimoto R., Nagashima K., Sato Y., Nakagawa A., Irie S., Iwashita S., Mimura M., Fujisawa D.

    Psychogeriatrics (Psychogeriatrics)  23 ( 1 ) 141 - 156 2023.01

    ISSN  13463500

    　View Summary

    Background: Caregivers of people with dementia frequently experience an elevated level of psychological distress and burden. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a group-format multi-component programme which is based on cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology. Methods: Family caregivers of dementia were allocated (1:1) to the intervention group and the wait-list control group, stratified by age (<65 years, ≥65 years) and care status (at home or in an institution). The intervention group received a six-session, 10-week, group-format programme. The primary outcome was the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Secondary outcomes were the short-version of the Zarit Burden Interview (personal strain and role strain), Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire, Dementia Caregiver Positive Feeling Scale, and Self-Compassionate Reactions Inventory. The evaluations were conducted at baseline, 10 weeks (post-intervention), and 14 weeks (follow-up). Results: The analyses were performed with 64 registered participants. In the whole sample, no significant effect was observed on HADS. There was medium effect on role strain (P = 0.04, partial η2 = 0.08). Positive feelings of caregiving increased after the intervention but were not maintained at follow-up. In the subgroup analysis of caregivers under 65 years of age, a statistically significant effect was observed for personal strain (P = 0.03, partial η2 = 0.16). An interaction effect was also found for the total score of positive feelings of caregiving (P < 0.05, partial η2 = 0.02) and the meaning of caregiving (P = 0.02, partial η2 = 0.10). Conclusions: This programme did not show significant improvement in depression and anxiety of caregivers of dementia; however, it reduced the burden of their role conflict (role strain) and yielded favourable short-term effects on the positive feelings and the meaning of caregiving among the participants. Also, the programme effectively reduced the personal strain of caregivers under 65 years.

  • Predictors and moderators of outcomes in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention for early breast cancer patients

    Tamura N., Park S., Sato Y., Sato Y., Takita Y., Ninomiya A., Sado M., Mimura M., Fujisawa D.

    Palliative and Supportive Care (Palliative and Supportive Care)  20 ( 2 ) 159 - 166 2022.04

    ISSN  14789515

    　View Summary

    Objectives To deliver mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) efficiently, the present study aimed (1) to identify predictors and moderators of patients who benefit from MBCT for psychological distress and (2) to explore the initial treatment reaction to identify the optimal number of sessions that produce a significant clinical effect. Methods This is the secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of MBCT for breast cancer patients (N = 74). We classified the participants into remitters vs. non-remitters, and responder vs. non-responders, according to the total score of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at the end of the intervention. We conducted multivariate analyses to explore for predictors of response and remission. We adopted generalized estimating equations to explore the optimal number of sessions. Results Sociodemographic and clinical backgrounds did not have significant influence on the treatment outcomes of the MBCT. Better program adherence, which was represented as the participants' better attendance to the MBCT program, was a significant predictor of both remission and response [odds ratio (OR) = 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.89, p = 0.003, and OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.12-2.65, p = 0.013, respectively]. It was not until seventh session that the remission rate exceeded 50% and the response rate showed significance. Significance of results Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics did not significantly influence the treatment outcomes, while homework minutes and class attendance had significant effects on treatment outcomes. This implies that MBCT is recommended to any cancer patient, if he/she is motivated to the program, regardless of their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Patients are encouraged to attend a standard MBCT program (eight sessions) and do the assigned homework as intensely as possible. Further studies with larger sample and objective measurements are desired.

Page Top ▲

Reviews, Commentaries, etc. 【 Display / hide 】

Page Top ▲