A Biobehavioural Approach to Understand How Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Reduces Dispositional Negative Self-Bias in Recurrent Depression
Hans Kirschner, Willem Kuyken, Anke Karl
Mindfulness April 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-022-01845-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Repeated-measures experimental design Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 50 |
| Population | Remitted depressed attendees of an outpatient clinic for mood disorders |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 2.5-3 months between measurements |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | MBCT reduced physiological arousal and increased heart rate variability during a self-compassion exercise, and increased overall levels of state and dispositional self-compassion, whereas no such changes were observed in the untreated control group. |
Abstract
Abstract Objectives In order to address an important gap in understanding mechanisms of depressive relapse, we complemented self-report with psychophysiological measures to a specifically developed brief self-compassion exercise, to examine if mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces dispositional negative self-bias in individuals with recurrent depression.
Methods: Individuals’ responses (self-report, heart rate, heart rate variability and skin conductance) during a previously validated brief self-compassion exercise were assessed in a repeated-measures experimental design at two timepoints 2.5–3 months apart in a convenience sample of remitted depressed attendees of an outpatient clinic for mood disorders. The first group received eight sessions of MBCT (n = 25) in between the two measurements whereas the second group was an untreated control group (n = 25).
Results: When the MBCT group engaged in the self-compassion exercise after MBCT, they showed reduced physiological arousal and increased heart rate variability whereas no changes were observed in the untreated control group. Whereas self-reported state self-compassion after the exercise increased in both groups at both timepoints, only in the MBCT group were the overall levels of state and dispositional self-compassion increased significantly.
Conclusion: MBCT appears to effectively reduce negative self-bias and facilitates psychophysiological benefits associated with a more positive self-view. Physiological responses to our self-compassion exercise could be useful markers of treatment-related changes and further mechanism research on depressive relapse prevention.