SPUR Project

2010 Winner (1 of 19)

The efficacy of a meditative and spiritual-based therapeutic intervention: A cohort study of the relationship between meditation, psychological well-being and neurophysiology

Supervisors: Dr Eva Sundin, Dr Alex Sumich (Psychology)

The mechanisms behind meditation and mindfulness-based therapies stem from Buddhist practice and have been adapted for application within the western environment. Such methods are already employed by the NHS and other health operators as a means of improving patient well-being as well as for reducing anxiety, stress, depression and other mood-related negative states. A limitation of such approaches however, is that they apply the practices of meditation and mindfulness in an ‘out of context’ manner. The project will test the efficacy of a newly designed and more encompassing meditative and spiritual based intervention which it is hoped may result in benefit for users and thereby assist in establishing a greater choice for patients on the NHS by placing such methods within the grounds of evidence-based medicine. Student tasks will include preparation and implementation of the therapeutic program material, data collection using electroencephalography (EEG) and questionnaire-based methods, data analysis and presentation of findings. The student, as part of the research team, will be encouraged to liaise and promote networking between the project stakeholders which includes the participants, Student Support Services and external individuals and organizations.