Contemplative Practice for Well-being and Self-Deconstruction in Women

NCT ID: NCT06950905

Last Updated: 2025-09-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

122 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-06-18

Study Completion Date

2028-06-30

Brief Summary

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This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a contemplative practice called Feeding Your Demons (FYD), based on a secular adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism, in improving psychological well-being, body image, body acceptance, compassion, and self-deconstruction in adult women. Participants will be randomly assigned to either FYD or an active control group practicing mindfulness meditation. Psychological variables will be assessed before and after the intervention, and at a six-month follow-up. Additionally, a qualitative exploration will be conducted through interviews with a subgroup of participants.

Detailed Description

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Feeding Your Demons (FYD) is a secular contemplative practice inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, integrating elements of mindfulness, compassion, and symbolic visualization. The practice offers a guided process through which individuals face internal difficulties-referred to as "demons"-and transform them through acceptance and self-compassion.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of FYD compared to a mindfulness meditation intervention. It is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel groups. A total of 122 adult women will participate. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the FYD group or the control group. Both interventions will be delivered online over eight weeks.

Variables assessed include psychological well-being, body image, body acceptance, mindfulness, compassion, and self-deconstruction. Assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention, and at a six-month follow-up.

Statistical analyses will include intra- and intergroup comparisons using repeated measures analysis of variance. Parametric or non-parametric tests will be applied depending on the assumptions met. Relationships between variables will also be analyzed through correlations. Effect sizes will be calculated to estimate the magnitude of observed changes. The significance level will be set at p \< .05, with a 95% confidence interval.

This study adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative assessments with qualitative interviews conducted with a subgroup of participants. Although the data are collected complementarily, their analysis and dissemination may be conducted separately or integratively, depending on the specific goals of each research phase.

Conditions

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Mental Health Self Concept Body Dissatisfaction Compassion Self-Perception Mindfulness Meditation Meditation Psychological Well-being

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Feeding Your Demons practice

The experimental group will engage in a "Feeding Your Demons" contemplative practice involving repeated sessions (30-60 minutes each).

The practice follows this structured protocol across sessions:

Preparation: Preparation: Comfortable sitting posture in a chair, with an empty chair in front.

Theme/Visualization: Identify a challenge (e.g., self-criticism, body dissatisfaction), observe bodily sensations, personify as a "demon" (note traits).

Dialogue: Shift chairs, embody the demon, answer: What do you want? Need? How will you feel when fulfilled?

Transformation: Return, dissolve demon into "nectar" (embodying its need), feed until it becomes an ally.

Ally Engagement: Note ally's traits, ask: How will you help/protect? What promise? How to access you? Briefly embody ally.

Closure: Ally dissolves into participant; and both dissolves and rest in present-moment awareness.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Feeding your demons practice

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Feeding Your Demons (FYD) is a contemplative practice based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, adapted in a secular form. The intervention is online and lasts a total of 8 weeks. During this period, participants will engage in weekly home practice of the FYD method using guided audio. The intervention includes 3 expert-facilitated sessions: an initial individual session, a group session at week 4, and a final group session at week 8.

Mindfulness Meditation condition

The control group will engage in a mindfulness meditation intervention involving repeated sessions (30-60 minutes each). The practice follows this structured protocol across sessions:

Preparation and Posture: Participants adopt a comfortable seated position with an upright spinal alignment.

Breath Awareness: Sustained attention is directed toward natural respiratory rhythms without deliberate modulation.

Body Scan: Systematic observation of somatic states (e.g., tension or relaxation) across distinct anatomical regions.

Observation of Thoughts and Emotions: Transient cognitive and affective phenomena are acknowledged with non-judgmental detachment, avoiding engagement.

Closure: Each session concludes with a return to breath-centered focus and gradual reorientation to the external environment.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Mindfulness practice

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The control group will undergo an online mindfulness meditation intervention, lasting a total of 8 weeks. It includes 3 expert-facilitated sessions: an initial individual session, a group session at week 4, and a final group session at week 8. Participants will engage in weekly home practice of mindfulness meditation using guided audio.

Interventions

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Feeding your demons practice

The Feeding Your Demons (FYD) is a contemplative practice based on the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, adapted in a secular form. The intervention is online and lasts a total of 8 weeks. During this period, participants will engage in weekly home practice of the FYD method using guided audio. The intervention includes 3 expert-facilitated sessions: an initial individual session, a group session at week 4, and a final group session at week 8.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Mindfulness practice

The control group will undergo an online mindfulness meditation intervention, lasting a total of 8 weeks. It includes 3 expert-facilitated sessions: an initial individual session, a group session at week 4, and a final group session at week 8. Participants will engage in weekly home practice of mindfulness meditation using guided audio.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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Feeding your demons FYD Mindfulness Mindfulness meditation Attentional meditation

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Sex assigned female at birth and self-identifies as a woman
* Aged between 30 and 60 years
* Spanish nationality, or residency in Spain for more than 5 years
* Fluent in Spanish
* At least one month of experience with meditation or mindfulness practices, with a regular practice of more than 15 minutes per session
* Provides informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Indicators of eating disorders (ED) or mental health deterioration, determined by the following cut-off points: SCOFF ≥ 2 and PHQ-9 ≥ 10
* Formal diagnosis of an eating disorder or any psychiatric condition
* Substance use disorder
* History of neurological disease diagnosis
* Participant's decision to withdraw from the study at any point
Minimum Eligible Age

30 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hospital Miguel Servet

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Javier Garcia Campayo

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Department of Psychiatry. Miguel Servet University Hospital

Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

University of Zaragoza

Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Spain

Central Contacts

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Javier Garcia Campayo

Role: CONTACT

976 50 65 78

Facility Contacts

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Javier García Campayo

Role: primary

976 50 65 78

Javier García Campayo, Doctor

Role: primary

976761714

Role: backup

Other Identifiers

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PI25/008

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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