Distance delivery of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: project UPLIFT.
Nancy J Thompson, Elizabeth Reisinger Walker, Natasha Obolensky, Ashley Winning, Christina Barmon, Colleen Diiorio, Michael T Compton
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B November 2010 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2010.07.031 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | People with epilepsy |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Dose | eight sessions, weekly |
| Duration | 8-week intervention; follow-up at ~16 weeks for waitlist group |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Depressive symptoms decreased significantly more in the intervention group than in the waitlist group, with no difference between Internet and telephone delivery. The effect persisted over eight weeks when the waitlist group received the intervention; knowledge and skills also increased significantly more in the intervention group. |
Abstract
This study evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed, home-based depression intervention for people with epilepsy. Based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), the eight-session, weekly intervention was designed for group delivery via the Internet or telephone. Forty participants were randomly assigned to intervention or waitlist. Depressive symptoms and other outcomes were measured at baseline, after intervening in the intervention group (~8 weeks), and after intervening in the waitlist group (~16 weeks). Depressive symptoms decreased significantly more in the intervention group than the waitlist group; Internet and telephone did not differ. This effect persisted over the 8 weeks when those waitlisted received the intervention. Knowledge/skills increased significantly more in the intervention than the waitlist group. All other changes, though not significant, were in the expected direction. Findings indicate that distance delivery of group MBCT can be effective in reducing symptoms of depression in people with epilepsy. Directions for future research are proposed.