Papers by Dana Dharmakaya Colgan
Pain Practice
BACKGROUND Central sensitization (CS), defined as the amplification of neural signaling within th... more BACKGROUND Central sensitization (CS), defined as the amplification of neural signaling within the CNS that elicits pain hypersensitivity, is thought be a characteristic of several chronic pain conditions. Maladaptive body awareness is thought to contribute and maintain CS. Less is known about the relationship between CS and adaptive body awareness. PURPOSE This cross-sectional study investigated relationships among self-reported adaptive body awareness (Multidimensional Interoceptive Awareness Scale-2; MAIA-2), CS-related symptoms (Central Sensitization Inventory; CSI), and pain intensity and further delineate potential direct and indirect links among these constructs. METHODS Online surveys were administered to 280 individuals with chronic pain reporting elevated CSI scores. Strategic sampling targeted respondents to reflect the 2010 census. Pearson's correlations characterized overall relationship between variables. Multiple regression analyses investigated potential direct links. A path analysis assessed mediational effects of CS-related symptoms on the relationship between adaptive body awareness and pain intensity. RESULTS CSI demonstrated strong, inverse correlations with some MAIA-2 subscales, but positive correlations with others. Higher CSI scores predicted greater pain intensity (b = .049, p ≤ .001). Two MAIA-2 subscales, Not-Distracting (b = -0.56, p ≤ .001) and Not-Worrying (b = -1.17, p ≤ .001) were unique predictors of lower CSI. Not-Distracting (b =-.05, p = .003) and Not-Worrying (b = -0.06, p = .007) uniquely predicted lower pain intensity. CSI completely mediated the relationship between adaptive body awareness and pain intensity [point estimate = -0.04; 95% bootstrap confident intervals (CI) =-0.05 to -0.02]. CONCLUSIONS Findings also support future research to explore causal relationships of variables.
Recent research has begun to distinguish between
various aspects of self-report measures of mindf... more Recent research has begun to distinguish between
various aspects of self-report measures of mindfulness, including the distinction between mindful process and outcome. Therefore, our primary goal in this study was to examine whether an increase in mindful outcome mediated the relationship between an increase in mindful process and improvements in mental and physical health and perceived stress among mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) participants. Consistent with expectations, we found that changes in mindful outcome partially mediated relationships between changes in mindful process and two outcomes: mental health and perceived stress (but not physical health). Moreover, as expected, in an alternate model, changes in mindful outcome did not facilitate changes in mindful process and improvements in any of the outcome variables. The implications and limitations of these findings, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Michael S. Christopher , Brant Rogers
Matthew Hunsinger, Dana Dharmakaya Colgan
Ana Lauren Reiss , Halley B. Farwood
Objectives: Nearly 38% of US adults use complementary and alternative medicine approaches to mana... more Objectives: Nearly 38% of US adults use complementary and alternative medicine approaches to manage physical conditions (e.g., chronic pain, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure) and psychological or emotional health concerns (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression). Research evidence has accumulated for yoga as an effective treatment approach for these conditions. Further, yoga has increased in popularity among healthcare providers and the general population. Given these trends, we explored perceptions about yoga as a viable complementary treatment to which health professions students would refer patients.
Subjects: We surveyed over 1,500 students enrolled in health professions programs at a Pacific Northwest school and obtained data from 478 respondents.
Design: The study assessed willingness to refer to yoga as a CAM for 27 symptoms (identified via literature as having evidence of yoga’s utility), which were subsequently grouped into skeletal, physical, and psychological based on factor analysis. We analyzed responses using a mixed model analysis of variance with Health Profession and Yoga Practitioner as between-subjects variables, and Symptoms as within-subjects factor.
Results: In descending order of likelihood to refer patients to yoga were students in Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Psychology, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Dental Hygiene, Speech and Audiology, and Optometry. All groups perceived yoga’s greatest utility for skeletal symptoms, followed by psychological and physical symptoms. Findings also revealed a significant positive relationship between level of personal yoga practice and willingness to refer patients to yoga.
Conclusions: Although students expressed some openness to referring patients to yoga, ratings of appropriateness were not accurately aligned with extant evidence base. Personal experience seemed to be a salient factor for accepting yoga as a referral target. These findings suggest the importance of developing strategies to make health professionals more aware of the merits of yoga, regardless of whether they themselves are yoga practitioners.
Christiane Brems, Ph.D., ABPP, Lauren Justice, B.A., Kari Sulenes, B.A., Lisa Girasa, M.A., Julia Ray, B.A., Madison Davis, B.A. Jillian Freitas, M.A., Margaret Shean, M.A., and Dharmakaya Colgan, M.A.
Background: Yoga is gaining momentum as a popular and evidence-based integrative healthcare and s... more Background: Yoga is gaining momentum as a popular and evidence-based integrative healthcare and self-care practice. Demographics of yogis are skewed and several barriers have been implicated (e.g., time, cost, access to teachers, lack of self-efficacy). No studies have explored barriers to practice among health professions students, whose participation in yoga is deemed important as they are future health professionals who will make referrals and as research has shown that providers who are yogis refer more patients to yoga.
Primary Study Objective. To increase health professions students’ yoga practice, we must understand what interferes with and facilitates a regular practice. The current study gathered that information.
Methods/Design: We developed and implemented an Acceptability of Yoga Survey for health professions students. We solicited participants via email, administering the survey online.
Setting: A private university in the Northwest US across three colleges and 10 professions.
Participants: We emailed all students (N = 1,585) in 10 health professions programs to request participation. We received 513 hits on the survey that led to 498 protocols, for a response rate of roughly 30%. Sample characteristics reflected population demographics, with no statistically significant differences (78% women; 79% White).
Results: Findings revealed common barriers were related to time and cost, lacking pragmatic information about how to access yoga classes and teachers, and stereotypes related to flexibility, athleticism, and typical yogis. Motivators included athleticism, health promotion, and emotional wellbeing, along with seeking pain relief and a sense of community. Referral by healthcare providers was the least-frequently cited motivator.
Conclusion: Findings have implications for how to motivate health professionals toward a yoga practice, as personal practice may be related to willingness to perceive and refer to yoga as a viable integrative treatment for patients. Suggestions for curriculum integration and media promotion of yoga are made.
Sulenes, K., Freitas, J., Justice, L., Colgan, D., Shean, M., & Brems, C
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a
promising intervention for veterans with post-trau... more Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a
promising intervention for veterans with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and depression; however, a more detailed
examination of the different elements of MBSR and various
facets of mindfulness to determine what works best for whom
is warranted. One hundred and two veterans with PTSD were
randomly assigned to one of four arms: (a) body scan (BS; n=
27), (b) mindful breathing (MB; n=25), (c) slow breathing
(SB; n=25), or (d) sitting quietly (SQ; n=25). The purpose
of this study was to (a) examine two separate components of
MBSR (i.e., body scan and mindful breathing) among veterans
with PTSD when compared to a nonmindfulness intervention
(SB) and a control group (SQ), (b) assess if changes in
specific mindfulness facets were predictive of post-treatment
PTSD and depression for individuals who participated in a
mindfulness intervention (BS vs. MB), and (c) investigate if
type of mindfulness intervention received would moderate the
relationship between pre- to post-treatment changes in mindfulness
facets and post-treatment outcomes in PTSD and depression.
Participants in the mindfulness groups experienced
significant decreases in PTSD and depression symptom severity
and increases in mindfulness, whereas the nonmindfulness
groups did not. Among veterans who participated in a mindfulness
group, change in the five facets of mindfulness
accounted for 23 % of unique variance in the prediction of
post-treatment depression scores. Simple slope analyses
revealed that type of mindfulness intervention moderated the
relationship among changes.
Dana Dharmakaya Colgan, Michael Christopher, Paul Michael, Helane Wahbeh
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Papers by Dana Dharmakaya Colgan
various aspects of self-report measures of mindfulness, including the distinction between mindful process and outcome. Therefore, our primary goal in this study was to examine whether an increase in mindful outcome mediated the relationship between an increase in mindful process and improvements in mental and physical health and perceived stress among mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) participants. Consistent with expectations, we found that changes in mindful outcome partially mediated relationships between changes in mindful process and two outcomes: mental health and perceived stress (but not physical health). Moreover, as expected, in an alternate model, changes in mindful outcome did not facilitate changes in mindful process and improvements in any of the outcome variables. The implications and limitations of these findings, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Michael S. Christopher , Brant Rogers
Matthew Hunsinger, Dana Dharmakaya Colgan
Ana Lauren Reiss , Halley B. Farwood
Subjects: We surveyed over 1,500 students enrolled in health professions programs at a Pacific Northwest school and obtained data from 478 respondents.
Design: The study assessed willingness to refer to yoga as a CAM for 27 symptoms (identified via literature as having evidence of yoga’s utility), which were subsequently grouped into skeletal, physical, and psychological based on factor analysis. We analyzed responses using a mixed model analysis of variance with Health Profession and Yoga Practitioner as between-subjects variables, and Symptoms as within-subjects factor.
Results: In descending order of likelihood to refer patients to yoga were students in Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Psychology, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Dental Hygiene, Speech and Audiology, and Optometry. All groups perceived yoga’s greatest utility for skeletal symptoms, followed by psychological and physical symptoms. Findings also revealed a significant positive relationship between level of personal yoga practice and willingness to refer patients to yoga.
Conclusions: Although students expressed some openness to referring patients to yoga, ratings of appropriateness were not accurately aligned with extant evidence base. Personal experience seemed to be a salient factor for accepting yoga as a referral target. These findings suggest the importance of developing strategies to make health professionals more aware of the merits of yoga, regardless of whether they themselves are yoga practitioners.
Christiane Brems, Ph.D., ABPP, Lauren Justice, B.A., Kari Sulenes, B.A., Lisa Girasa, M.A., Julia Ray, B.A., Madison Davis, B.A. Jillian Freitas, M.A., Margaret Shean, M.A., and Dharmakaya Colgan, M.A.
Primary Study Objective. To increase health professions students’ yoga practice, we must understand what interferes with and facilitates a regular practice. The current study gathered that information.
Methods/Design: We developed and implemented an Acceptability of Yoga Survey for health professions students. We solicited participants via email, administering the survey online.
Setting: A private university in the Northwest US across three colleges and 10 professions.
Participants: We emailed all students (N = 1,585) in 10 health professions programs to request participation. We received 513 hits on the survey that led to 498 protocols, for a response rate of roughly 30%. Sample characteristics reflected population demographics, with no statistically significant differences (78% women; 79% White).
Results: Findings revealed common barriers were related to time and cost, lacking pragmatic information about how to access yoga classes and teachers, and stereotypes related to flexibility, athleticism, and typical yogis. Motivators included athleticism, health promotion, and emotional wellbeing, along with seeking pain relief and a sense of community. Referral by healthcare providers was the least-frequently cited motivator.
Conclusion: Findings have implications for how to motivate health professionals toward a yoga practice, as personal practice may be related to willingness to perceive and refer to yoga as a viable integrative treatment for patients. Suggestions for curriculum integration and media promotion of yoga are made.
Sulenes, K., Freitas, J., Justice, L., Colgan, D., Shean, M., & Brems, C
promising intervention for veterans with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and depression; however, a more detailed
examination of the different elements of MBSR and various
facets of mindfulness to determine what works best for whom
is warranted. One hundred and two veterans with PTSD were
randomly assigned to one of four arms: (a) body scan (BS; n=
27), (b) mindful breathing (MB; n=25), (c) slow breathing
(SB; n=25), or (d) sitting quietly (SQ; n=25). The purpose
of this study was to (a) examine two separate components of
MBSR (i.e., body scan and mindful breathing) among veterans
with PTSD when compared to a nonmindfulness intervention
(SB) and a control group (SQ), (b) assess if changes in
specific mindfulness facets were predictive of post-treatment
PTSD and depression for individuals who participated in a
mindfulness intervention (BS vs. MB), and (c) investigate if
type of mindfulness intervention received would moderate the
relationship between pre- to post-treatment changes in mindfulness
facets and post-treatment outcomes in PTSD and depression.
Participants in the mindfulness groups experienced
significant decreases in PTSD and depression symptom severity
and increases in mindfulness, whereas the nonmindfulness
groups did not. Among veterans who participated in a mindfulness
group, change in the five facets of mindfulness
accounted for 23 % of unique variance in the prediction of
post-treatment depression scores. Simple slope analyses
revealed that type of mindfulness intervention moderated the
relationship among changes.
Dana Dharmakaya Colgan, Michael Christopher, Paul Michael, Helane Wahbeh
various aspects of self-report measures of mindfulness, including the distinction between mindful process and outcome. Therefore, our primary goal in this study was to examine whether an increase in mindful outcome mediated the relationship between an increase in mindful process and improvements in mental and physical health and perceived stress among mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) participants. Consistent with expectations, we found that changes in mindful outcome partially mediated relationships between changes in mindful process and two outcomes: mental health and perceived stress (but not physical health). Moreover, as expected, in an alternate model, changes in mindful outcome did not facilitate changes in mindful process and improvements in any of the outcome variables. The implications and limitations of these findings, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.
Michael S. Christopher , Brant Rogers
Matthew Hunsinger, Dana Dharmakaya Colgan
Ana Lauren Reiss , Halley B. Farwood
Subjects: We surveyed over 1,500 students enrolled in health professions programs at a Pacific Northwest school and obtained data from 478 respondents.
Design: The study assessed willingness to refer to yoga as a CAM for 27 symptoms (identified via literature as having evidence of yoga’s utility), which were subsequently grouped into skeletal, physical, and psychological based on factor analysis. We analyzed responses using a mixed model analysis of variance with Health Profession and Yoga Practitioner as between-subjects variables, and Symptoms as within-subjects factor.
Results: In descending order of likelihood to refer patients to yoga were students in Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant, Psychology, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Dental Hygiene, Speech and Audiology, and Optometry. All groups perceived yoga’s greatest utility for skeletal symptoms, followed by psychological and physical symptoms. Findings also revealed a significant positive relationship between level of personal yoga practice and willingness to refer patients to yoga.
Conclusions: Although students expressed some openness to referring patients to yoga, ratings of appropriateness were not accurately aligned with extant evidence base. Personal experience seemed to be a salient factor for accepting yoga as a referral target. These findings suggest the importance of developing strategies to make health professionals more aware of the merits of yoga, regardless of whether they themselves are yoga practitioners.
Christiane Brems, Ph.D., ABPP, Lauren Justice, B.A., Kari Sulenes, B.A., Lisa Girasa, M.A., Julia Ray, B.A., Madison Davis, B.A. Jillian Freitas, M.A., Margaret Shean, M.A., and Dharmakaya Colgan, M.A.
Primary Study Objective. To increase health professions students’ yoga practice, we must understand what interferes with and facilitates a regular practice. The current study gathered that information.
Methods/Design: We developed and implemented an Acceptability of Yoga Survey for health professions students. We solicited participants via email, administering the survey online.
Setting: A private university in the Northwest US across three colleges and 10 professions.
Participants: We emailed all students (N = 1,585) in 10 health professions programs to request participation. We received 513 hits on the survey that led to 498 protocols, for a response rate of roughly 30%. Sample characteristics reflected population demographics, with no statistically significant differences (78% women; 79% White).
Results: Findings revealed common barriers were related to time and cost, lacking pragmatic information about how to access yoga classes and teachers, and stereotypes related to flexibility, athleticism, and typical yogis. Motivators included athleticism, health promotion, and emotional wellbeing, along with seeking pain relief and a sense of community. Referral by healthcare providers was the least-frequently cited motivator.
Conclusion: Findings have implications for how to motivate health professionals toward a yoga practice, as personal practice may be related to willingness to perceive and refer to yoga as a viable integrative treatment for patients. Suggestions for curriculum integration and media promotion of yoga are made.
Sulenes, K., Freitas, J., Justice, L., Colgan, D., Shean, M., & Brems, C
promising intervention for veterans with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and depression; however, a more detailed
examination of the different elements of MBSR and various
facets of mindfulness to determine what works best for whom
is warranted. One hundred and two veterans with PTSD were
randomly assigned to one of four arms: (a) body scan (BS; n=
27), (b) mindful breathing (MB; n=25), (c) slow breathing
(SB; n=25), or (d) sitting quietly (SQ; n=25). The purpose
of this study was to (a) examine two separate components of
MBSR (i.e., body scan and mindful breathing) among veterans
with PTSD when compared to a nonmindfulness intervention
(SB) and a control group (SQ), (b) assess if changes in
specific mindfulness facets were predictive of post-treatment
PTSD and depression for individuals who participated in a
mindfulness intervention (BS vs. MB), and (c) investigate if
type of mindfulness intervention received would moderate the
relationship between pre- to post-treatment changes in mindfulness
facets and post-treatment outcomes in PTSD and depression.
Participants in the mindfulness groups experienced
significant decreases in PTSD and depression symptom severity
and increases in mindfulness, whereas the nonmindfulness
groups did not. Among veterans who participated in a mindfulness
group, change in the five facets of mindfulness
accounted for 23 % of unique variance in the prediction of
post-treatment depression scores. Simple slope analyses
revealed that type of mindfulness intervention moderated the
relationship among changes.
Dana Dharmakaya Colgan, Michael Christopher, Paul Michael, Helane Wahbeh