Effects of a 12-Week Mindfulness, Compassion, and Loving Kindness Program on Chronic Depression: A Pilot Within-Subjects Wait-List Controlled Trial.
Johannes Graser, Volkmar Höfling, Charlotte Weβlau, Adriana Mendes, Ulrich Stangier
Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy January 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1891/0889-8391.30.1.35 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 12-week group program combining mindfulness exercises from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy with compassion exercises from Compassion Focused Therapy and Loving Kindness Meditation reduced depression severity in 11 patients with chronic depression. Symptoms did not change during a 3-month waiting period but significantly decreased after treatment and further improved at a 3-month follow-up, with nearly large effect sizes. Emotion regulation improved, with increased acceptance and decreased suppression of emotions, and rumination about oneself also decreased at follow-up. Compassionate love and mindfulness increased, while no effects were found on self-compassion or self-esteem. The approach may improve treatment options for chronic depression if confirmed by further studies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 11 |
| Population | Patients suffering from chronic depression |
| Interventions | Mindfulness exercises from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Compassion exercises from Compassion Focused Therapy Loving Kindness Meditation |
| Duration | 12-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Chronic depression Compassion Group therapy |
| Key finding | A 12-week group program combining mindfulness and compassion exercises significantly reduced depression severity in patients with chronic depression, with further improvement at 3-month follow-up. |
Abstract
In this pilot study, N = 11 patients suffering from chronic depression were treated in a 12-week group program consisting of basic mindfulness exercises from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and compassion exercises from Compassion Focused Therapy and Loving Kindness Meditation. In a 3-month waiting period prior to treatment, depression symptoms both in self-report and clinician rating did not change significantly. After treatment, depression severity was significantly reduced. After a 3-month follow-up, the symptoms further improved, with almost large effect sizes being observed in primary outcome measures.Changes in emotion regulation styles reflected by a significant increase in acceptance and significant decrease in suppression of emotions were observed at follow-up. Rumination about oneself was also significantly reduced at follow-up. Compassionate love and mindfulness were increased at follow-up, no effects were found on the Self-Compassion Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Given further confirming studies for this approach, it might improve treatment options for patients suffering from chronic depression.