Network-level functional topological changes after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in mood dysregulated adolescents at familial risk for bipolar disorder: a pilot study
Kun Qin, Du Lei, Jing Yang, Wenbin Li, Maxwell J. Tallman, Luis Rodrigo Patino Duran, Thomas J. Blom, Kaitlyn M. Bruns, Sian Cotton, John A. Sweeney, Qiyong Gong, Melissa P. DelBello
BMC Psychiatry May 2, 2021 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03211-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Randomized Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Mood dysregulated adolescents at familial risk for bipolar disorder |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children (MBCT-C) |
| Duration | 12-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Graph theory Emotion regulation Psychoradiology Bipolar disorder Familial risk |
| Key points | MBCT-C increased global efficiency and decreased characteristic path length within the fronto-parietal and cingulo-opercular networks, and reduced characteristic path length in the cingulo-opercular network was associated with improved emotion regulation. |
Abstract
Abstract Background Given that psychopharmacological approaches routinely used to treat mood-related problems may result in adverse outcomes in mood dysregulated adolescents at familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children (MBCT-C) provides an alternative effective and safe option. However, little is known about the brain mechanisms of beneficial outcomes from this intervention. Herein, we aimed to investigate the network-level neurofunctional effects of MBCT-C in mood dysregulated adolescents.
Methods: Ten mood dysregulated adolescents at familial risk for BD underwent a 12-week MBCT-C intervention. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed prior to and following MBCT-C. Topological metrics of three intrinsic functional networks (default mode network (DMN), fronto-parietal network (FPN) and cingulo-opercular network (CON)) were investigated respectively using graph theory analysis.
Results: Following MBCT-C, mood dysregulated adolescents showed increased global efficiency and decreased characteristic path length within both CON and FPN. Enhanced functional connectivity strength of frontal and limbic areas were identified within the DMN and CON. Moreover, change in characteristic path length within the CON was suggested to be significantly related to change in the Emotion Regulation Checklist score.
Conclusions: 12-week MBCT-C treatment in mood dysregulated adolescents at familial risk for BD yield network-level neurofunctional effects within the FPN and CON, suggesting enhanced functional integration of the dual-network. Decreased characteristic path length of the CON may be associated with the improvement of emotion regulation following mindfulness training. However, current findings derived from small sample size should be interpreted with caution. Future randomized controlled trials including larger samples are critical to validate our findings.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis on magnetic resonance imaging: similarities and differences. A scoping review. Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie March 1, 2024
- The Impact of Mindfulness on Functional Brain Connectivity and Peripheral Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors with Cognitive Complaints Cancers July 15, 2023
- Mindful young brains and minds: a systematic review of the neural correlates of mindfulness-based interventions in youth. Brain Imaging and Behavior April 1, 2025
- Meditation Enhances Small-World Network Efficiency: MEG-Based Evidence from Attention and Control Systems. Brain Connectivity June 1, 2026
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Children Using Mindfulness to Promote Mental Health in Schools December 2, 2025
and 2 more in the library
Cites 9
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Neural mechanisms of attentional control in mindfulness meditation Frontiers in Neuroscience 2013
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- Functional Brain Changes During Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Associated With Tinnitus Severity Frontiers in Neuroscience July 24, 2019
and 4 more in the library