Mindfulness Training for Senior Leaders

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The overarching goal of the project is to investigate if a mindfulness-based attention training (MBAT) program contextualized for Military Senior Leaders (SLs) might benefit SLs in three key domains: (1) cognitive abilities, (2) psychological well-being and self-reported physical health, and (3) strategic leadership skills and ability. The MBAT-SL program will be tested by the training cohorts and compared to the wait-list control cohorts who will receive the training after a no-training interval.

Official Title
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Mindfulness Training for U.S. Army Senior Leaders

Conditions
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Cognitive Change

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) web-course


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Individuals who are between 18 and 65 years of age. Individuals who are fluent English speakers. Individuals who are active-duty service members Individuals who are willing and able to consent to participate in the study. Individuals who participated in the courses provided by the Army War College (AWC). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals who have been hospitalized for psychological/mental health issues within the last month

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Group A (MT group)<br>Participants will receive 4 weeks of mindfulness training during the first training interval between the first (T1) and second (T2) assessment sessions. | Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) web-course<br>* Pre-recorded weekly sessions for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of approximately 2 hours of video content per week and weekly mindfulness exercises. This video will include MBAT program lectures, pre-recorded testimony from military leaders, and teaching materials. The course will also include 15-min daily mindfulness practice drills.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Group B (Wait-list group)<br>Participants will not receive 4 weeks of mindfulness training during the first training interval; they will receive 4 weeks of mindfulness training during the second training interval between the second (T2) and third (T3) assessment sessions. | Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) web-course<br>* Pre-recorded weekly sessions for 4 weeks. Each session will consist of approximately 2 hours of video content per week and weekly mindfulness exercises. This video will include MBAT program lectures, pre-recorded testimony from military leaders, and teaching materials. The course will also include 15-min daily mindfulness practice drills.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Sustained attention to response task (SART) score | The SART involves pressing a button to frequently presented non-target trials (numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) and withholding the button press to the infrequent target trials (number 3). The participants can have a total score between 0 and 100% with a higher score indicating better sustained attention. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in 5FMQ scores | Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (5FMQ) is used to assess the five major aspects of mindfulness. The present study will use the 15-item short version. The scores range from 15 to 75, with higher scores indicating greater levels of mindfulness in different aspects of one's life. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 
| Change in Decentering score | Decentering consists of 11 items measuring various thoughts and experiences, and the tendency to distance from those. The decentering score ranges from 1 to 55, with a higher score indicating a high level of decentering. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 
| Change in PANAS positive affect score | Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) is a widely used self-reported measure of positive and negative affect. The present study will use a short version with a 5-item positive subscale. The score ranges from 5 to 25 with a higher score indicating a higher positive mood. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 
| Change in PANAS negative affect score | Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) is a widely used self-reported measure of positive and negative affect. The present study will use a short version with a 5-item negative subscale. The score ranges from 5 to 25 with a higher score indicating a higher negative mood. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 
| Change in PSS score | Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a questionnaire measuring the degree to which situations in one's life are viewed as stressful within the past month. The present study will use the 4-item short version, with the total score ranging from 0 to 16, with a higher score indicating a higher level of perceived stress. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 
| Change in PHQ4 scores | Patient Health Questionnaire 4 items (PHQ4) is an ultra-brief 4-item measure of depression and anxiety in the general population with the total score ranging from 0 to 12. Higher score indicates higher level of anxiety and depression. | Baseline (T1) to post-4-week training interval 1 (T2) to post-4-week training interval 2 (T3). | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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mindfulness training, psychological health