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Evaluating a brief mindfulness intervention after hysterectomy in young women – A pilot study in Pakistan

Farhana Ambreen(1), Ambreen Fatima(2), Vladimir O. Hedrih(3),


(1) Department of Professional Psychology, Bahria University Islamabad Campus, Plot 83, Islamabad H-11/4, Islamabad, Pakistan
(2) Department of Professional Psychology, Bahria University Islamabad Campus, Plot 83, Islamabad H-11/4, Islamabad, Pakistan
(3) Department of Psychology, University of Niš, Ćirila i Metodija 2 street, Niš, Serbia
Corresponding Author

Abstract


Hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure that involves the removal of a woman’s uterus. The procedure can produce substantial psychological distress, particularly in young women, which can be long-lasting. The goal of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a 4-week brief mindfulness-based intervention in reducing the symptoms of psychological distress in women who underwent hysterectomy and restoring their positive psychological functioning. The study used a quasi-experimental, open label design. Participants were 16 young women recovering from hysterectomy. 8 of these women underwent the brief-mindfulness based intervention, while the remaining 8 were a control, no treatment group. Results showed that women participating in the study reported mild-to-severe symptoms of psychological distress and very low positive psychological functioning levels in pretest. After the treatment, distress levels of women in the treatment group returned to normal values, while distress levels of women in the control group remained elevated.

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