Skip to content

A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for major depressive disorder in undergraduate students: Dose- response effect, inflammatory markers and BDNF.

Wei Liu, Jing Yuan, Yun Wu, Li Xu, Xin Wang, Junyu Meng, Yujun Wei, Yan Zhang, Chuan-Yuan Kang, Jian-Zhong Yang

Psychiatry Research 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115671 (opens in new tab)

Read Full Text
Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Population College students with major depressive disorder
Intervention mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Duration 8-week intervention
Topics Depression Meditation
Keywords Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Randomized control trial The dose-response effect
Citations 19
Key findings MBCT significantly reduced depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep problems, and pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing mindfulness, self-compassion, and BDNF, with a dose-response effect based on practice time and session attendance.

Abstract

To examine the dose-response effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for college students with major depressive disorder (MDD), a randomized control trial with MBCT and a wait-list (WL) group was performed. All participants were invited to self-administer a set of questionnaires at baseline, mid-intervention (4th week), and post-intervention (8th week) by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). The serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, BDNF were detected at baseline and post-intervention. After intervention, the scores of PHQ-9, GAD-7, PSQI, and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the MBCT were significantly lower than those in WL group, and total scores of FFMQ, SCS, and the level of BDNF were significantly higher than those in WL group. In MBCT group, daily practice time and session numbers positively related to reduction rates of PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PSQI at post-intervention. The reduction rate of PHQ-9, GAD-7 and PSQI at post-intervention in the completers were higher significantly than those in the partial attendees. These findings suggested MBCT is effective for MDD, and the intervention has a dose-response effect. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number is [ChiCTR2100044309].

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Subjects with DSM-IV major depression (treatment resistant) 2006 Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study n = 18
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety 2016 Randomized controlled trial n = 51
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression 2016 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial n = 29
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

Citations in the library

Cited by 6

and 1 more in the library

Cites 17

and 12 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Depression Meditation Anxiety