Projects

In what follows you can find a summary of the projects in which I AM has been collaborating.

Scientific projects in collaboration with the University of Gent

Department of Psychiatry, UZ Gent

Prof. Van Heeringen conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Attention and Mindfulness a 3-year long research about the effects of MBCT to prevent the relapse in depression. The study was supported by the Flemish government through the Minister of Wellbeing. The study focused on those who have had at least 3 depression episodes. Results showed that there was a significant reduction of relapse in depression. In the control group, 70% experienced a relapse within the year while this was the case for only 30% of the MBCT participants. The results of the study will soon be published.

Department of Orthopedagogy – Special Education, UGent

In collaboration with Dr. Veerle Soyez is the usefulness and effectiveness of Mindfulness for children in primary schools being researched. The study aims to investigate whether Mindfulness has a positive effect on the concept of the self, the self-reflection, the coping behavior, the focused attention and the quality of life for children in primary schools. Twelve primary schools are participating in the research. The study is being supported by the Foundation Ga voor Geluk.

In collaboration with Dr. Veerle Soyez and psychologist Ann Morez (linked to the Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology and stem cell, UZ Gent) is the usefulness of Mindfulness to children with cancer being researched. The study aims at examining whether Mindfulness is helping the children to better cope with stress, pain and emotions. This project is being realized with the support of the Fund of Patronage of ING in Belgium that is being governed by the Foundation of King Boudewijn (Koning Boudewijnstichting).

Scientific projects in collaboration with the Catholic University of Leuven

Center of Learning Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, KUL

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Filip Raes were the effects of the 8 week mindfulness training for stress, anxiety, sickness, pain and depression researched. The results of this study have been published.

Dekeyser, M., Raes, F., Dewulf, D., Leijssen, M., & Leysen, S. (2008). Evaluation of the Dutch version of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) and its association with interpersonal anxiety and performance. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1235-1245.

Raes F., Dewulf D., Van Heeringen C., Williams J.M.G. (2009) Mindfulness and reduced cognitive reactivity to sad mood: evidence from a correlational study and a non-randomized waiting list controlled study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47, 623-627.

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Filip Raes is the usefulness and effectiveness of Mindfulness to adolescents being researched. The aim of the study is to investigate whether Mindfulness has a positive effect on the concept of the self, the self-reflection, the coping behavior, the focused attention and the quality of life of adolescents in high school. The research is being supported by the Foundation Ga voor Geluk.

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Filip Raes is the usefulness and effectiveness of Mindfulness for the socially and economically excluded being investigated. If the results of the study would indicate a higher quality of life for the socially and economically excluded, then Vrienden van het Huizeke as organization where the poor express their voice, want to put pressure on politics to make mindfulness accessible to people with low and extreme low income possibilities. This research is being supported by the Foundation of King Boudewijn (Koning Boudewijnstichting).

Research department for Labour-, Organizational- and Personnel Psychology, KUL

In collaboration with Prof. Dr. Jeroen Stouten is the usefulness and effectiveness of Mindfulness trainings in relation to the wellbeing at work being investigated. This study has been initiated by the Catholic University of Leuven and is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Ghent en the University of Antwerp. Prof. Stouten (KUL) investigates the effects for executives; Prof. Vlerick (UGent) will be focusing on the effects for employees and Prof. Vandenbempt (UA) studies the effect at the organizational level.

Department Human Kinesiology, Exercise- and Sport Psychology and Coaching Section, KUL

Prof. Dr. Filip Boen and collaborators – in cooperation with the Institute for Attention and Mindfulness – are investigating the effects of the 8 week mindfulness training on motoric skills. The aim of this study is to research whether following a mindfulness training has a positive effect on the achievements in sports in which concentration is very important.

Scientific projects in collaboration with the University of Antwerp

Department Neurology, UZ Antwerp

In collaboration with Dr. Barbara Pickut is the effect of the 8 week Mindfulness training to patients of the Parkinson Disease being researched. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Mindfulness has an effect on the non-motoric symptoms of the Parkinson Disease.