The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for reducing rumination and improving mindfulness and self-compassion in patients with treatment-resistant depression.
A. Foroughi, Kheirollah Sadeghi, A. Parvizifard, Arash Parsa Moghadam, O. Davarinejad, V. Farnia, Ghazaleh Azar
Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy June 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1590/2237-6089-2019-0016 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combined with antidepressants reduces depression and ruminative thinking more than antidepressants alone in people with treatment-resistant depression. In a quasi-experimental study, twenty-four patients were randomly assigned to receive either MBCT plus antidepressants or antidepressants only over eight sessions. Those receiving MBCT showed significantly lower depression scores and less rumination, along with improved mindfulness and self-compassion, and these gains were maintained at a one-month follow-up.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 24 |
| Population | Patients with treatment-resistant depression |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Antidepressants |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 1-month follow-up |
| Keywords | Medicine Psychology |
| Key finding | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy combined with antidepressants significantly reduced depression and ruminative thinking and improved mindfulness and self-compassion in patients with treatment-resistant depression, with gains maintained at one-month follow-up. |
Abstract
Introduction Depression is one of the most important psychiatric disorders, and the rate of recurrence is high. The heavy cost burden of depression is probably due to treatment-resistant depression. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Method The present study was a quasi-experimental study conducted with twenty-four patients with treatment-resistant depression. Participants were selected by purposive sampling and randomly assigned to two groups, an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received MBCT and antidepressants, while the control group received antidepressants only. The Hamilton and Beck Depression Inventory, Self-Compassion Scale, Thought Rumination Scale, and Mindfulness Scale were administered. The treatment program was conducted in eight sessions; with a follow-up period of one month subsequent to treatment termination. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance for repeated measures and Bonferroni's post-hoc test). Results The results showed that MBCT significantly reduced depression and ruminative thinking in the experimental group and also improved mediators such as mindfulness and self-compassion. Patients maintained gains over the one month follow-up period (p < 0.01). Conclusion The present study provides additional evidence for the effectiveness of MBCT for TRD.