Contemplative Neurosciences: Mindfulness

Code:

OPT192

Acronym:

NCM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2023/2024 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Departamento de Biomedicina
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	14	Plano Oficial 2021	3	-	2	19	54
			5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The main goals are the recognition and critical analysis of :

1. Current neurobiological knowledge about the foundations of Mindfulness and presumptive mechanisms of action;
2. Structure of Mindfulness Courses that are fully certified and available worldwide, namely Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (originated at the University of Massachussetts), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (originated at the University of Oxford) and Mindfulness Based Self Compassion (University of Texas). Other cognitive behavioural approaches will be considered (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy);
3. Mindfulness based approaches versus Mindfulness-informed approaches;
4. Scientific research in the area of contemplative neurosciences, namely in mind-body interventions at international universities with scientific publications and proper follow-up;
5. Construction of  personal Mindfulness and Meditation practice.

Learning outcomes and competences

The learning outcomes regarding skills and competences are:

1. Be able to recognize approaches included in contemplative neurosciences that aim personal development, through processes of self-knowledge and self-regulation;
2. Be able to recognize and identify self-care strategies;
3. Improve stress and anxiety management abilities;
4. Enhance interpersonal relationships at various levels (university, family and friends and also taking into account the future clinical setting);
5. Construction of a personal practice of Mindfulness, in what concerns formal (meditation) and informal aspects.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

N/A

Program

• Contemplative Neurosciences


• Historical framework of meditation. Introduction to Mindfulness


• Neurobiology of Mindfulness and meditation


• Stress and anxiety at the medical school: predictor of future behavior in the clinical setting?


• Mindfulness in health contexts (burnout and compassion fatigue)


• Attention and awareness


• Mindfulness Structured Courses


• Types of practices: formal and informal


• The thoughts: structure, meaning and self-observation


• Emotions: genesis of emotion


• Acceptance and judgment


• Visual metaphors of the mind


• Relationship practices with the body


• Self-care


• Self-compassion

Mandatory literature

Jon Kabat Zinn; Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness, Little, Brown Book Group, 2013. ISBN: 0749958413
Mark G Williams, Zindel V. Segal; Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, The Guilford Press. ISBN: 1462537030
Ostafin B, Robinson M, Meier B; Handbook of Mindfulness and Self-Regulation, Springer

Teaching methods and learning activities

The Curricular Unit consists of a series of classes with a 2 hour duration/each, corresponding to 19 contact hours and a total load of 2 ECTS. The evaluation will take into account

1. the presence at the class, which is very important since the student is supposed to build his/her personal training path. The presence in all the classes will be majored in 10%.
2. Construction of an individual and reflexive portfolio. The portfolio will contain a personal reflection of each session. At the end of the course the student will be able to review his/her portfolio to add relevant elements. The construction of the portfolio will be majored at 70% of the final grade.
3. Guidance of a brief midfulness intervention, which cab be based in a script defined with the guidance of the professors. This session will be directed to the intire grup (students and professors).

 In compliance with the Pedagogical Regulation. To obtain frequency of the Curricular Unit, it is necessary to attend at least 75% of the classes.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	14,00
Estudo autónomo	14,00
Frequência das aulas	19,00
Trabalho escrito	7,00
Total:	54,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendence of 75% of the classes

Calculation formula of final grade

Presence at the classes (10%)+ "Portfolio" (70%)+ Session (20%)