Clinical psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science
April 29, 2022
Z. Cohen, R. DeRubeis, Rachel Hayes et al.
Depression often returns even after successful treatment. Using data from 424 adults with recurrent depression, researchers built models to predict relapse over 24 months for those continuing antidepressant medication (ADM) versus switching to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Only the ADM model modestly predicted relapse better than baseline severity. People with the poorest ADM prognosis who switched to MBCT had lower relapse rates (48% vs. 70%) and longer time before relapse than those who stayed on ADM. For those with moderate or good ADM prognosis, both treatments led to similar relapse likelihood. The results suggest predictive models could help tailor relapse prevention choices.
Behaviour Research and Therapy
May 25, 2021
C. Hitchcock, C. Haag, Alicia J. Smith et al.
preprint
Memory specificity—the ability to recall specific, single-incident autobiographical memories—has been thought to predict recurrent depression. This individual patient data meta-analysis examined whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) improves memory specificity and whether pre-treatment memory specificity moderates treatment response. Across datasets including 880 participants, memory specificity did not significantly change from before to after treatment for either MBCT or control interventions. Baseline memory specificity did not predict treatment response, whether measured by symptom levels or relapse risk. These findings question the assumed role of memory specificity in treatments for depression.
Mindfulness
December 2, 2020
R. Baer, C. Crane, J. Montero-Marín et al.
About two-thirds of schoolteachers and university students who took an 8-week mindfulness course reported unpleasant experiences linked to the practice, though most rated these as not at all or only somewhat upsetting, and some found them beneficial. The proportion reporting harm from the course ranged from 3 to 7%, and the proportion showing reliable deterioration on symptom questionnaires ranged from 2 to 7%. These groups largely did not overlap, indicating that harm may not be detected by standard symptom measures. The findings suggest mindfulness teachers should prepare participants for possible difficulties and assess harm explicitly.
Mindfulness
April 29, 2019
J. Michalak, C. Crane, C. Germer et al.
An expert group developed guidelines for responsibly integrating mindfulness practices into individual therapy, informed by a literature review. Recommendations address types of integration, suitable diagnoses, therapist qualifications, case formulation, the inquiry process, optimal practice types and duration, managing difficult experiences, and training programs. The authors note that research on this topic is scarce, so the recommendations are tentative and intended to stimulate further discussion.
Mindfulness
January 12, 2019
A. Tickell, S. Ball, P. Bernard et al.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is delivered effectively and safely in routine mental health services, even though its use has expanded beyond the originally intended population. Across five UK mental health services with 1,554 participants, 47% entered with non-depressed scores, and 96% of those remained non-depressed after treatment. Among the 53% who entered with depressed scores, 45% recovered to non-depressed range, and overall depression severity significantly decreased. Reliable deterioration was low (3%), comparable to other psychotherapies.
Psychological Assessment
April 14, 2016
Jenny Gu, C. Strauss, C. Crane et al.
The 39-item and 15-item versions of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) show different factor structures before and after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in adults with remitted recurrent depression. Before MBCT, a four-factor model (excluding the Observing facet) best fit the data; after MBCT, a five-factor model fit best. Configural invariance across time was not supported, meaning the questionnaire's structure changes with intervention, which may invalidate direct pre-to-post comparisons. Both versions had adequate internal consistency and sensitivity to change and did not differ in convergent validity. Researchers should consider omitting the Observing subscale when comparing scores before and after mindfulness interventions. The FFMQ-15 is a suitable brief alternative.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
August 24, 2015
T. Barnhofer, C. Crane, Kate Brennan et al.
Mindfulness training can weaken the link between depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking in patients with a history of suicidal depression. In a randomized trial, previously suicidal patients received mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), an active control treatment (cognitive psychoeducation, CPE), or treatment as usual (TAU). After treatment, among patients with minimal to moderate depressive symptoms, suicidal cognitions were significantly related to symptom levels in both control groups but not in the MBCT group. This suggests that mindfulness training helps patients decenter from negative thinking, reducing a key vulnerability for relapse into suicidal depression.
Clinical Psychology Review
April 1, 2015
A. M. van der Velden, W. Kuyken, U. Wattar et al.
This systematic review examines how mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) alleviates recurrent major depressive disorder. Of 476 articles identified, 23 met inclusion criteria. Twelve studies found that changes in mindfulness, rumination, worry, compassion, or meta-awareness were associated with, predicted, or mediated MBCT's effect on treatment outcomes. Preliminary evidence also suggests alterations in attention, memory specificity, self-discrepancy, emotional reactivity, and momentary affect may play a role. The authors conclude that MBCT may work through some theoretically predicted mechanisms but call for more rigorous designs to establish causal specificity.
Journal of Affective Disorders
April 1, 2008
J.M.G. Williams, Y. Alatiq, C. Crane et al.
Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms in people with bipolar disorder who were in remission but had suicidal ideation or behavior. In a small pilot randomized trial, bipolar participants receiving MBCT showed greater immediate improvement in anxiety compared to those on a waitlist, and both bipolar and unipolar participants had fewer residual depressive symptoms. The findings are preliminary due to the small sample and cannot be generalized to individuals without suicidal symptoms.