Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy efficacy in reducing physiological response to emotional stimuli in patients with bipolar I disorder and the intermediate role of cognitive reactivity.
Aurélie Docteur, Philip Gorwood, Christine Mirabel-Sarron, Héline Kaya Lefèvre, Loretta Sala, Philibert Duriez
Journal of Clinical Psychology November 2021 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23243 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational pre-post study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 67 |
| Population | Patients with bipolar disorder |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Measures | electrodermal recording (skin conductance), depression inventories, dysfunctional attitudes inventories |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Bipolar disorder Dysfunctional attitudes Emotions Physiological reactivity |
| Key findings | Among a subgroup of patients with a significant change in electrodermal response, MBCT reduced dysfunctional attitudes and the amplitude of physiological responses to negative stimuli. Lower dysfunctional attitudes at baseline predicted a larger reduction in physiological reactivity. The authors suggest MBCT may decrease reactivity to negative stimuli by reducing its physiological component, and call for further studies on mechanisms and relapse risk. |
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for bipolar disorders on emotional responses by using skin conductance recording, and to investigate a mediating or predictive effect of cognitive reactivity. Sixty-seven patients with bipolar disorder were assessed at baseline, pre-MBCT and post-MBCT. After answering inventories regarding depression and dysfunctional attitudes, they were instructed to focus on emotional pictures from the International Affective Pictures System while electrodermal recording. For a subgroup of patients having a significant change of the electrodermal response, MBCT reduced dysfunctional attitudes and the amplitude of the physiological response to negative stimuli. Findings also show that lower dysfunctional attitudes at baseline predicted a larger reduction of physiological reactivity. MBCT could decrease patient's reactivity to negative stimuli by decreasing its physiological component, which is coherent with its aim to facilitate disengaging from affective stimuli. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved and how this could translate in reducing the risk of relapse.
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
Cites 14
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces overgeneral autobiographical memory in formerly depressed patients. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 2000
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for residual depressive symptoms and relapse prophylaxis Current Opinion in Psychiatry December 11, 2015
- Role of autobiographical memory in the impact of MBCT on dysfunctional attitudes, depressive symptoms and anxiety in bipolar I patients. Journal of Affective Disorders July 21, 2020
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder: A Systematic Review Journal of Affective Disorders July 6, 2018
and 9 more in the library