Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
Jonathan P. Stange, Lori Eisner, Britta K. Hölzel, Andrew Peckham, Darin D. Dougherty, Scott L. Rauch, Andrew A. Nierenberg, Sara W. Lazar, Thilo Deckersbach
Journal of Psychiatric Practice November 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1097/01.pra.0000407964.34604.03 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open pilot trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with bipolar disorder |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Bipolar disorder Psychotherapist Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy Cognitive processing therapy Cognition Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 83 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was associated with improvements in self-reported executive functioning, memory, and task initiation in patients with bipolar disorder, with some benefits persisting after three months. |
Abstract
Bipolar disorder is associated with impairments in cognition, including difficulties in executive functioning, even when patients are euthymic (neither depressed nor manic). The purpose of this study was to assess changes in self-reported cognitive functioning in patients with bipolar disorder who participated in an open pilot trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Following MBCT, patients reported significant improvements in executive functioning, memory, and ability to initiate and complete tasks, as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe). Changes in cognitive functioning were correlated with increases in mindful, nonjudgmental observance and awareness of thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and were not associated with decreases in depression. Improvements tended to diminish after termination of treatment, but some improvements, particularly those in executive functioning, persisted after 3 months. These results provide preliminary evidence that MBCT may be a treatment option that can be used as an adjunct to medication to improve cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder.
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 21
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Zen Meditation for Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Psychological Distress Journal of Psychiatric Practice July 1, 2012
- Prospects for a clinical science of mindfulness-based intervention. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Web-based intervention to improve quality of life in late stage bipolar disorder (ORBIT): randomised controlled trial protocol BMC Psychiatry July 12, 2018
- Mindfulness for children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting (MindChamp): Protocol of a randomised controlled trial comparing a family Mindfulness-Based Intervention as an add-on to care-as-usual with care-as-usual only BMC Psychiatry July 25, 2018
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus psychoeducational intervention in bipolar outpatients: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Spanish journal of psychiatry and mental health 2023
and 16 more in the library
Cites 23
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Attending to the present: mindfulness meditation reveals distinct neural modes of self-reference Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience August 13, 2007
and 18 more in the library