2025, Number 1
<< Back Next >>
Rev Fac Med UNAM 2025; 68 (1)
The Influence of Mindfulness on Chronic Stress Regulation for the Comprehensive Development of the Human Being
Velázquez-Paniagua M, Gómez-Chavarín BM, Sampieri-Cabrera R
Language: Spanish
References: 43
Page: 8-19
PDF size: 467.56 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Chronic stress in humans is a silent condition that contributes
to the development of physiological alterations, which
can lead to disease. Among the pathologies associated with
chronic stress are cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,
metabolic and inflammatory disorders. These, in turn, are
linked to the development of metabolic syndrome, obesity,
fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes. A relationship has
also been identified with certain psychotic and neurodegenerative
disorders, as well as some types of cancer. Given
the clinical, social, and mental significance of chronic stress,
various interventions exist to mitigate it, among which mindfulness-
based programs have proven effective in reducing
chronic stress across different populations. The objective of
this narrative review is to provide an overview of the physiology
of stress and chronic stress and to explain how the latter
affects humans, from systemic alterations to central imbalances
(such as memory, learning, and emotional dysregulation).
Additionally, this review aims to delve into the origins
and foundations of mindfulness practice and its contribution
as a health intervention.
REFERENCES
Janssen M, Heerkens Y, Kuijer W, van der Heijden B, EngelsJ. Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction onemployees’ mental health: a systematic review. PLoS One. 2018;13(1):e0191332.
Liu YZ, Wang YX, Jiang CL. Inflammation: The commonpathway of stress-related diseases. Front Hum Neurosci.2017;11:316.
Cohen S, Janicki-Deverts D, Miller GE. Psychologicalstress and disease. JAMA. 2007;298(14):1685-7.
Kabat-Zinn J. Bringing mindfulness to medicine: an interviewwith Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD. Interview by KarolynGazella. Adv Mind Body Med. 2005;21(2):22-7.
West CP, Dyrbye LN, Shanafelt TD. Physician burnout:contributors, consequences and solutions. J Intern Med.2018;283(6):516-29.
Kabat-Zinn J. Too early to tell: the potential impact andchallenges—ethical and otherwise—inherent in the mainstreamingof Dharma in an increasingly dystopian world.Mindfulness (N Y). 2017;8(5):1125-35.
Perula-de Torres LA, Atalaya JCV, Garcia-Campayo J,Roldan-Villalobos A, Magallon-Botaya R, Bartolome-Moreno C, et al. Controlled clinical trial comparing theeffectiveness of a mindfulness and self-compassion 4-sessionprogramme versus an 8-session programme to reducework stress and burnout in family and community medicinephysicians and nurses: MINDUUDD study protocol.BMC Fam Pract. 2019;20(1):24.
Creswell JD. Mindfulness interventions. Annu Rev Psychol.2017;68:491-516.
O’Reilly GA, Cook L, Spruijt-Metz D, Black DS. Mindfulness-based interventions for obesity-related eating behaviours:a literature review. Obes Rev. 2014;15(6):453-61.
Winkens L, Elstgeest L, van Strien T, Penninx B, VisserM, Brouwer IA. Does food intake mediate the associationbetween mindful eating and change in depressive symptoms?Public Health Nutr. 2020;23(9):1532-42.
Lee SH, Cho SJ. Cognitive behavioral therapy andmindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depressive disorders.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021;1305:295-310.
GCG. Psicología del trabajo. McGraw Hill; 2005. 292 p.
Hugo FCV. Estrés laboral. 2007:66.
Orlandini A. El estrés: qué es y cómo evitarlo. 2001:200.
Ramos Resendiz JI. Estrés, síndrome de burnout y su relacióncon el cortisol acumulado en cabello en estudiantesuniversitarios de la carrera de Cirujano Dentista [tesis].México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; 2016.
Shrout MR, Renna ME, Madison AA, Jaremka LM, FagundesCP, Malarkey WB, et al. Cortisol slopes and conflict:a spouse’s perceived stress matters. Psychoneuroendocrinology.2020;121:104839.
Iwata M, Ota KT, Duman RS. The inflammasome: pathwayslinking psychological stress, depression, and systemicillnesses. Brain Behav Immun. 2013;31:105-14.
Lebedeva A, Sundstrom A, Lindgren L, Stomby A, AarslandD, Westman E, et al. Longitudinal relationships amongdepressive symptoms, cortisol, and brain atrophy in theneocortex and the hippocampus. Acta Psychiatr Scand.2018;137(6):491-502.
Nogareda S. Fisiología del estrés. Madrid: Instituto Nacionalde Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo; 2000.
McEwen BS. Stress-induced remodeling of hippocampalCA3 pyramidal neurons. Brain Res. 2016;1645:50-4.
Bennur S, Shankaranarayana Rao BS, Pawlak R, StricklandS, McEwen BS, Chattarji S. Stress-induced spine lossin the medial amygdala is mediated by tissue-plasminogenactivator. Neuroscience. 2007;144(1):8-16.
Vyas A, Mitra R, Shankaranarayana Rao BS, Chattarji S.Chronic stress induces contrasting patterns of dendriticremodeling in hippocampal and amygdaloid neurons. JNeurosci. 2002;22(15):6810-8.
Liston C, Miller MM, Goldwater DS, Radley JJ, RocherAB, Hof PR, et al. Stress-induced alterations in prefrontalcortical dendritic morphology predict selective impairmentsin perceptual attentional set-shifting. J Neurosci.2006;26(30):7870-4.
Radley JJ, Sisti HM, Hao J, Rocher AB, McCall T, HofPR, et al. Chronic behavioral stress induces apical dendriticreorganization in pyramidal neurons of the medialprefrontal cortex. Neuroscience. 2004;125(1):1-6.
Weare K. Mindfulness and contemplative approaches ineducation. Curr Opin Psychol. 2019;28:321-6.
Schuman-Olivier Z, Trombka M, Lovas DA, Brewer JA,Vago DR, Gawande R, et al. Mindfulness and behaviorchange. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2020;28(6):371-94.
Fortney L, Taylor M. Meditation in medical practice: areview of the evidence and practice. Prim Care. 2010;37(1):81-90.
Worthen M, Cash E. Stress management. StatPearls [Internet].Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Kabat-Zinn J, Massion AO, Kristeller J, Peterson LG, FletcherKE, Pbert L, et al. Effectiveness of a meditation-basedstress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders.Am J Psychiatry. 1992;149(7):936-43.
Crane RS, Brewer J, Feldman C, Kabat-Zinn J, SantorelliS, Williams JM, et al. What defines mindfulness-basedprograms? The warp and the weft. Psychol Med. 2017;47(6):990-9.
Roemer L, Orsillo SM, Salters-Pedneault K. Efficacy of anacceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxietydisorder: evaluation in a randomized controlled trial.J Consult Clin Psychol. 2008;76(6):1083-9.
Teasdale JD, Segal ZV, Williams JM, Ridgeway VA, SoulsbyJM, Lau MA. Prevention of relapse/recurrence in majordepression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. JConsult Clin Psychol. 2000;68(4):615-23.
Bowen S, Witkiewitz K, Dillworth TM, Chawla N, SimpsonTL, Ostafin BD, et al. Mindfulness meditation andsubstance use in an incarcerated population. Psychol AddictBehav. 2006;20(3):343-7.
Tapper K, Shaw C, Ilsley J, Hill AJ, Bond FW, MooreL. Exploratory randomised controlled trial of a mindfulness-based weight loss intervention for women. Appetite.2009;52(2):396-404.
Grossman P, Tiefenthaler-Gilmer U, Raysz A, Kesper U.Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia:evidence of postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefitsin well-being. Psychother Psychosom. 2007;76(4):226-33.
Holzel BK, Carmody J, Vangel M, Congleton C, YerramsettiSM, Gard T, et al. Mindfulness practice leads toincreases in regional brain gray matter density. PsychiatryRes. 2011;191(1):36-43.
Tang YY, Leve LD. A translational neuroscience perspectiveon mindfulness meditation as a prevention strategy.Transl Behav Med. 2016;6(1):63-72.
Luders E, Toga AW, Lepore N, Gaser C. The underlyinganatomical correlates of long-term meditation: larger hippocampaland frontal volumes of gray matter. Neuroimage.2009;45(3):672-8.
Luders E, Thompson PM, Kurth F, Hong JY, Phillips OR,Wang Y, et al. Global and regional alterations of hippocampalanatomy in long-term meditation practitioners.Hum Brain Mapp. 2013;34(12):3369-75.
Buchanan TW, Kern S, Allen JS, Tranel D, Kirschbaum C.Circadian regulation of cortisol after hippocampal damagein humans. Biol Psychiatry. 2004;56(9):651-6.
Yao Y, Zhao S, Zhang Y, Tang L, An Z, Lu L, et al. Job-relatedburnout is associated with brain neurotransmitterlevels in Chinese medical workers: a cross-sectional study.J Int Med Res. 2018;46(8):3226-35.
Newberg AB, Iversen J. The neural basis of the complex mentaltask of meditation: neurotransmitter and neurochemicalconsiderations. Med Hypotheses. 2003;61(2):282-92.
Tooley GA, Armstrong SM, Norman TR, Sali A. Acuteincreases in night-time plasma melatonin levels followinga period of meditation. Biol Psychol. 2000;53(1):69-78.