Loving-kindness meditation to enhance recovery from negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

In this article, we describe the clinical applicability of loving-kindness meditation (LKM) to individuals suffering from schizophrenia-spectrum disorders with persistent negative symptoms. LKM may have potential for reducing negative symptoms such as anhedonia, avolition, and asociality while enhancing factors consistent with psychological recovery such as hope and purpose in life. Case studies will illustrate how to conduct this group treatment with clients with negative symptoms, the potential benefits to the client, and difficulties that may arise. Although LKM requires further empirical support, it promises to be an important intervention since there are few treatments for clients afflicted with negative symptoms. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 65: 1-11, 2009.

J Clin Psychol. 2009 Mar 6;65(5):499-509. Johnson DP, Penn DL, Fredrickson BL, Meyer PS, Kring AM, Brantley M. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.