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Anne E. M. Speckens

37 papers in the library · 1,687 citations · publishing 2009-2026

Papers

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Efficacy and Moderators of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Difficult-to-Treat Depression: A Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics June 12, 2026 Thorsten Barnhofer, Maria Niemi, Johannes Michalak et al. 1 citation

INTRODUCTION: Around a third of patients with major depressive disorder experience persistent symptoms despite usual treatments. Identifying scalable, psychological treatment options is critical to reduce the burden associated with difficult-to-treat depression (DTD). We examined the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) compared with treatment as usual (TAU) and other active...

Randomized Controlled Trial of Group-Blended and Individual-Unguided Online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Reduce Psychological Distress in People With Cancer.

Psycho-oncology September 1, 2025 Nasim Badaghi, Linda Kwakkenbos, Judith Prins et al.

Online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (eMBCT) can reduce psychological distress in people with cancer, but adherence and scalability could be improved. Through co-creation, we developed two eMBCT formats: group-blended and individual-unguided. This trial compared the effects of the two eMBCT to care as usual (CAU) on psychological distress and other mental health outcomes in people with...

Group-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Reduce Psychological Distress and Improve Sleep in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (MindIBD).

Inflammatory bowel diseases July 14, 2025 Milou M Ter Avest, Marloes J. Huijbers, Carmen S Horjus et al. 6 citations

Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suffer from psychological distress, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and a reduced quality of life-even during remission. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been effective in other populations, and therefore it may also benefit IBD patients. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of MBCT plus treatment as usual (TAU)...

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Mental Health Outcomes in Frontline Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Journal of General Internal Medicine May 19, 2025 Marieke Arts-De Jong, Dirk E. M. Geurts, Philip Spinhoven et al. 2 citations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs), but solid evidence on psychological interventions for HCWs remains limited. Whether an adjusted therapist-assisted Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction group intervention (adjusted MBSR) is superior to a minimal self-guided mindfulness-based intervention (self-guided MBI) in improving mental...

The Effect of a Dyadic Support Intervention on Mindfulness Home Practice Adherence: A Pilot and Feasibility Study

Mindfulness May 10, 2025 Charlotte Borgers, Johan C. Karremans, Anne E. M. Speckens

Abstract Objectives An important element of mindfulness-based interventions is daily at-home mindfulness practice. However, maintaining regular practice is a challenge for many participants. This study examined the influence of a dyadic support intervention—a “buddy intervention”—on adherence to mindfulness practice in terms of practice frequency and duration. Method In this quasi-experimental...

Promoting Resilience in Youth through Mindfulness mEditation (PRYME): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of mindfulness training as add-on to care-as-usual on internalizing problems, mental illness development, and associated brain and cognitive processes in help-seeking youth.

BMC Psychiatry February 14, 2025 Maud Schepers, Paul Lagerweij, Dirk E. M. Geurts et al. 2 citations

Internalizing problems, such as worrying, anxiety and low mood, are increasingly common in youth and may constitute an early stage of mental illness development. There is thus an urgent need for effective measures to address mental health complaints as they develop and to prevent progression into more serious mental illness. Enhanced understanding of early-stage mental illness development,...

Improved quality of life and psychological symptoms following mindfulness and cognitive rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis and their mediating role for cognition: a randomized controlled trial.

Journal of neurology July 1, 2024 Ilse M Nauta, Maureen Van Dam, Dirk Bertens et al. 20 citations

Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently gives rise to depressive and anxiety symptoms, but these are often undertreated. This study investigated the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) on psychological outcomes and quality of life (QoL), and whether they mediate treatment effects on MS-related cognitive problems. This randomized controlled...

Change in Mindfulness Profiles After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder

Mindfulness July 1, 2024 Jelle Lubbers, Philip Spinhoven, Mira B. Cladder-Micus et al.

Abstract Objectives Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reduces recurrence and current depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). To understand how and for whom MBCT works, a person-centered approach focusing on mindfulness profiles can be useful. Four mindfulness profiles, each associated differently with mental health outcomes, have previously been...

Study protocol for the MIND-PD study: a randomized controlled trial to investigate clinical and biological effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in people with Parkinson's disease.

BMC Neurology June 25, 2024 Anouk Van der Heide, Franziska Goltz, Nienke M De Vries et al. 5 citations

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) are very sensitive to the effects of stress. The prevalence of stress-related neuropsychiatric symptoms is high, and acute stress worsens motor symptoms. Animal studies suggest that chronic stress may accelerate disease progression, but evidence for this in humans is lacking. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) train participants to focus on the present...

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for elementary school teachers: a randomized controlled trial

Frontiers in Education April 9, 2024 Johanna H. Lensen, Sabine E. M. J. Stoltz, Marloes Kleinjan et al.

Educators frequently grapple with elevated levels of job-related stress, heightening the risk of mental health issues. Although Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing stress among the general populace, its implementation among educators, especially in non-United States settings, has received limited exploration. This pre-registered...

Latent Profile Analysis of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) Subscales in a Naturalistic Sample of Patients with Past or Present Major Depression: A Replication and Extension Study

Mindfulness February 1, 2024 Jelle Lubbers, Philip Spinhoven, Mira B. Cladder-Micus et al.

Abstract Objectives Mindfulness is a multifaceted concept which might be best captured by person-centered profiles rather than by variable-centered assessment of its subcomponents. Patients with different mindfulness profiles may vary in mental health status and might experience differential clinical outcomes of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). We therefore aimed to assess the...

Rumination and Self-Compassion Moderate Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Patients With Recurrent and Persistent Major Depressive Disorder: A Controlled Trial.

Depression and Anxiety 2024 Jelle Lubbers, Dirk E. M. Geurts, Philip Spinhoven et al. 10 citations

Background: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is effective in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Understanding for whom and how MBCT works may allow for improvements in treatment allocation and effectiveness. In this study, our aim was to investigate depressive rumination, content-independent perseverative thinking, mindfulness skills, and...

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy v. treatment as usual in people with bipolar disorder: A multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Psychological Medicine October 1, 2023 Imke Hanssen, Marloes J. Huijbers, Eline Regeer et al. 7 citations

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) seems a promising intervention for bipolar disorder (BD), but there is a lack of randomised controlled trials (RCT) investigating this. The purpose of this multicentre, evaluator blinded RCT was to investigate the added value of MBCT to treatment as usual (TAU) in BD up to 15 months follow-up (NCT03507647). A total of 144 participants with BD type I...

Trial-based economic evaluation of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared to treatment as usual for bipolar disorder.

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research September 12, 2023 Ben Wijnen, Maud Jansen, Annelieke Van Velthoven et al. 2 citations

Aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and treatment as usual (TAU) compared to TAU alone in adults with Bipolar disorder (BD). An economic evaluation with a time horizon of 15 months was conducted from a societal perspective. Outcomes were expressed in costs per quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs per...

Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings.

Nature. Mental health July 10, 2023 Julieta Galante, Claire Friedrich, Napaporn Aeamla-Or et al. 102 citations

Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) are widely used to prevent mental ill-health that is becoming the leading global cause of morbidity. Evidence suggests beneficial average effects but wide variability. We aimed to confirm the effect of MBPs on psychological distress, and to understand whether and how baseline distress, gender, age, education, and dispositional mindfulness modify the effect of...

Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for chronic noncancer pain and prescription opioid use disorder: A qualitative pilot study of its feasibility and the perceived process of change

Brain and Behavior May 24, 2023 Hannah Ellerbroek, Imke Hanssen, Karen Lathouwers et al.

Mindfulness‐based interventions have a positive impact on pain, craving, and well‐being in both patients with chronic pain and those with opioid use disorder (OUD). Although data are limited, mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) might be a promising treatment for patients with chronic noncancer pain combined with OUD. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the feasibility and...

Follow-up outcomes of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for patients with chronic, treatment-resistant depression.

Journal of Affective Disorders May 1, 2023 Mira B. Cladder-Micus, J. Vrijsen, A. Fest et al.

BACKGROUND Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based treatment for depression. The current study focused on the long-term effects of MBCT for chronically, treatment-resistant depressed patients during a 6-months follow-up period. Additionally, predictors of treatment outcomes were explored. METHOD The outcomes of MBCT on depressive symptoms, remission rates, quality of...

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for major depressive disorder: evidence from routine outcome monitoring data

BJPsych Open March 9, 2023 Dirk E. M. Geurts, Felix R. Compen, Marleen H.C.T. van Beek et al.

Background Meta-analyses show efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in terms of relapse prevention and depressive symptom reduction in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, most studies have been conducted in controlled research settings. Aims We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of MBCT in patients with MDD presenting in real-world clinical practice....

Supporting antidepressant discontinuation using mindfulness plus monitoring versus monitoring alone: A cluster randomized trial in general practice.

PLoS One 2023 Marloes J. Huijbers, Carolien Wentink, Peter L B J Lucassen et al.

Discontinuing antidepressant medication (ADM) can be challenging for patients and clinicians. In the current study we investigated if Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) added to supported protocolized discontinuation (SPD) is more effective than SPD alone to help patients discontinue ADM. This study describes a prospective, cluster-randomized controlled trial (completed). From 151...

Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces depression-related self-referential processing in patients with bipolar disorder: an exploratory task-based study

Cognition & Emotion December 22, 2021 Thalia D.M. Stalmeier, Jelle Lubbers, Mira B. Cladder-Micus et al.

ABSTRACT Negative self-referential processing has fruitfully been studied in unipolar depressed patients, but remarkably less in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). This exploratory study examines the relation between task-based self-referential processing and depressive symptoms in BD and their possible importance to the working mechanism of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for BD....

Adverse or therapeutic? A mixed-methods study investigating adverse effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in bipolar disorder.

PLoS One December 2, 2021 Imke Hanssen, Vera Scheepbouwer, Marloes J. Huijbers et al. 12 citations

BackgroundMindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are widely used in clinical and non-clinical populations, but little attention has been given to potential adverse effects (AEs).AimsThis study aimed to gain insight in the prevalence and course of AEs during Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for patients with bipolar disorder (BD).MethodThe current mixed-methods study was conducted as...

Factors associated with relapse and recurrence of major depressive disorder in patients starting mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy

Depression and Anxiety November 9, 2021 J. D. de Klerk-Sluis, Marloes J. Huijbers, S. Löcke et al.

Mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is effective for relapse prevention in major depressive disorder (MDD). It reduces cognitive reactivity (CR) and rumination, and enhances self‐compassion and mindfulness. Although rumination and mindfulness after MBCT are associated with relapse, the association of CR, rumination, self‐compassion, and mindfulness with relapse before initiation of MBCT...

Discontinuing antidepressant medication after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: a mixed-methods study exploring predictors and outcomes of different discontinuation trajectories, and its facilitators and barriers

BMJ Open November 12, 2020 Marloes J Huijbers, Carolien Wentink, Anne Speckens et al.

Objectives This study aimed to explore predictors and outcomes associated with different trajectories of discontinuing antidepressant medication (ADM), in recurrently depressed individuals after participation in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Facilitators and barriers of discontinuation were explored qualitatively.Design Mixed-methods study combining quantitative and qualitative...

Mindfulness and Affect During Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Recurrent Depression: an Autoregressive Latent Trajectory Analysis

Mindfulness October 1, 2020 Marleen J. Ter Avest, Corina U. Greven, Marloes J. Huijbers et al.

Abstract Objectives Gaining knowledge of dynamic processes of mechanisms underlying mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for recurrent depression could help to improve treatment efficacy. The current study examined the overall course and week-to-week associations of mindfulness and positive/negative affect during MBCT for recurrent depression. Methods Using data from the MOMENT study, 235...

Mechanisms of Change in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Adults With ADHD

Journal of Attention Disorders January 6, 2020 Dirk E. M. Geurts, Melanie P. J. Schellekens, L. Janssen et al.

Objective: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been demonstrated to be effective in adults with ADHD. The aim of the current study was to examine its possible working mechanisms. Method: In the context of an randomized controlled trial (RCT), MBCT + TAU (treatment as usual) (n = 43) versus TAU (n = 51), we used mediation analyses to examine whether reduction of clinician-rated ADHD...