The impact of a ward‐based mindfulness programme on recorded aggression in a medium secure facility for women with learning disabilities

Abstract

Mindfulness is the practice of focusing attention effectively/purposefully, in a non‐judgemental manner, on current circumstances (Kabat‐Zinn, 2009; Crane, 2009). It has been increasingly used as a tool for managing a range of difficulties associated with personal suffering, including stress and chronic pain, as well as some aspects of mental disorder. In this study the practice of mindfulness was introduced to a medium secure ward for female patients with learning disabilities in the form of twice‐weekly, 30‐minute group sessions. Proxy measures of institutional aggression namely the number of observations (Obs), physical interventions (PI), and seclusions (Sec) were recorded at baseline (during the month prior to the introduction of the mindfulness sessions and at two months and six months following the introduction of the sessions). Friedman's Analysis of Variance and post‐hoc analyses using Wilcoxon's Signed Ranks showed a significant reduction at six months. The potential influence of basic mindfulness practice sessions in reducing aggression is discussed.

Citation

Chilvers, J., Thomas, C. and Stanbury, A. (2011), "The impact of a ward‐based mindfulness programme on recorded aggression in a medium secure facility for women with learning disabilities", Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 27-41. https://doi.org/10.5042/jldob.2011.0026