Multilevel Growth Curve Analyses of Behavioral Activation for Anhedonia (BATA) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Effects on Anhedonia and Resting-State Functional Connectivity: Interim Results of a Randomized Trial
P. Cernasov, E. Walsh, J. Kinard, L. Kelley, Rachel C Phillips, Angela Pisoni, T. Eisenlohr-Moul, Macey L. Arnold, Sarah C. Lowery, Marcy Ammirato, K. Truong, Gabriela A. Nagy, Jason A. Oliver, Kevin Haworth, Moria J Smoski, G. Dichter
Journal of Affective Disorders May 28, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.054 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 73 |
| Population | Medication-free, transdiagnostic, anhedonic adults |
| Duration | Up to 15 therapy sessions; up to four 7T MRI scans before, during, and after treatment |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Both Behavioral Activation Therapy for Anhedonia and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy reduced anhedonia symptoms, with no difference between treatments. Reductions in resting-state functional connectivity within the default mode and frontoparietal networks, and between them, co-occurred with anhedonia improvement. Within-person connectivity changes were unrelated to anhedonia changes, while higher-than-average frontoparietal connectivity was related to lesser anhedonia across timepoints. |
Abstract
Background: The neural mechanisms associated with anhedonia treatment response are poorly understood. Additionally, no study has investigated changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) accompanying psychosocial treatment for anhedonia.
Methods: We evaluated a novel psychotherapy, Behavioral Activation Therapy for Anhedonia (BATA, n=38) relative to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT, n=35) in a medication-free, transdiagnostic, anhedonic sample in a parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants completed up to 15 sessions of therapy and up to four 7T MRI scans before, during, and after treatment (n=185 scans). Growth curve models estimated change over time in anhedonia and in rsFC using average region-of-interest (ROI)-to-ROI connectivity within the default mode network (DMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), salience network, and reward network. Changes in rsFC from pre- to post-treatment were further evaluated using whole-network seed-to-voxel and ROI-to-ROI edgewise analyses.
Results: Growth curve models showed significant reductions in anhedonia symptoms and in average rsFC within the DMN and FPN over time, across BATA and MBCT. There were no differences in anhedonia reductions between treatments. Within-person, changes in average rsFC were unrelated to changes in anhedonia. Between-person, higher than average FPN rsFC was related to lesser anhedonia across timepoints. Seed-to-voxel and edgewise rsFC analyses corroborated reductions within the DMN and between the DMN and FPN over time, across the sample.
Conclusions: Reductions in rsFC within the DMN, FPN, and between these networks co-occurred with anhedonia improvement across two psychosocial treatments for anhedonia. Future anhedonia clinical trials with a waitlist control group should disambiguate treatment versus time-related effects on rsFC.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- The effect of universal school-based mindfulness on anhedonia and emotional distress and its underlying mechanisms: A cluster randomised controlled trial via experience sampling in secondary schools Behaviour Research and Therapy September 19, 2023
- Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis on magnetic resonance imaging: similarities and differences. A scoping review. Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie March 1, 2024
- Exploring the effects of mindfulness meditation on resting-state functional connectivity: an overview. Reviews in the Neurosciences June 3, 2026
- Mindfulness-induced modulation of resting-state networks functional connectivity in depressed adults: A systematic review Research Square October 24, 2025
Cites 14
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Impact of meditation training on the default mode network during a restful state Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience March 24, 2012
and 9 more in the library