Emerging research and theory supports a common, core set of “transdiagnostic” mental processes that cut across numerous psychological disorders, from depression and anxiety, to substance use, insomnia, and eating disorders. Transdiagnostic processes include: attentional bias, repetitive negative thought (e.g., worry, rumination), self-focused attention, negative affectivity, experiential avoidance, and emotional reactivity, among others. The recognition of such shared cognitive and affective vulnerabilities to diverse psychological disorders has prompted a shift away from diagnostic specificity and toward underlying functional processes, as reflected in the current NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). Taking a transdiagnostic view, this presentation will describe mindfulness as a “transtherapeutic” process, which can specifically target shared cognitive, affective, physiological, and behavioral processes implicated in a broad spectrum of mental and somatic disorders.
CE Objectives
At the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe a transdiagnostic view of mental disorders that focuses on shared, functional processes, rather than traditional diagnostic criteria.
- Explain at least three ways in which mindfulness training can produce therapeutic change by targeting transdiagnostic processes (cognitive, emotional, and biological)
About Dr. Greeson
Jeffrey M. Greeson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Swarthmore College in 1997, an M.S. in Biomedical Chemistry from Thomas Jefferson University in 2001, and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Miami in 2006. He was on faculty at Duke University Medical Center from 2006-2014, before joining Penn Psychiatry. Dr. Greeson's research interests include the effects of stress on mental and physical health, and how effectively reducing stress can improve health and potentially prevent disease. His research on stress and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been funded by the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine and the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a licensed psychologist who specializes in Health Psychology, Dr. Greeson provides psychotherapy to patients at Penn who present with co-morbid mental and medical disorders, many of which are stress-related. Dr. Greeson is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the American Psychosomatic Society, and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. He has published nearly 50 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, and has given over 100 invited presentations to students, researchers, and health care professionals on the topics of stress, mindfulness, and mind-body health.
Target Audience
This presentation is intended for mental health professionals, researchers, and graduate students. The instructional level of this presentation is introductory.
Continuing Education
Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
This program provides two (2) hours of CE credits. PBTA is also an authorized provider for CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
