The Impact of Treatments for Depression on the Dynamic Network Structure of Mental States: Two Randomized Controlled Trials.
Evelien Snippe, Wolfgang Viechtbauer, Nicole Geschwind, Annelie Klippel, Peter De Jonge, Marieke Wichers
Scientific Reports April 20, 2017 DOI: 10.1038/srep46523 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 169 |
| Population | Individuals with major depression (Imipramine trial) and individuals with residual depressive symptoms (Mind-Maastricht trial) |
| Interventions | Imipramine Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Measures | Experience Sampling Method (ESM) |
| Topics | Depression |
| Key findings | Few dynamic network connections among mental states changed significantly over time, and few changes after imipramine or MBCT differed significantly from control groups. The decrease in average node connectivity after MBCT did not differ from the waiting-list control. The authors suggest that these treatments do not greatly change the dynamic network structure of mental states, even though they reduce depressive symptomatology. |
Abstract
Evidence is growing that vulnerability to depression may be characterized by strong negative feedback loops between mental states. It is unknown whether such dynamics between mental states can be altered by treatment. This study examined whether treatment with imipramine or treatment with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reduces the connectivity within dynamic networks of mental states in individuals with depressive symptoms. In the Imipramine trial, individuals diagnosed with major depression were randomized to imipramine treatment or placebo-pill treatment (n = 50). In the Mind-Maastricht trial, individuals with residual depressive symptoms were randomized to Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) or to a waiting-list control condition (n = 119). Lagged associations among mental states, as assessed with the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), were estimated at baseline and post-intervention. The results show that few of the dynamic network connections changed significantly over time and few of the changes after MBCT and imipramine treatment differed significantly from the control groups. The decrease in average node connectivity after MBCT did not differ from the decrease observed in the waiting-list control group. Our findings suggest that imipramine treatment and MBCT do not greatly change the dynamic network structure of mental states, even though they do reduce depressive symptomatology.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Investigating differential effects of socio-emotional and mindfulness-based online interventions on mental health, resilience and social capacities during the COVID-19 pandemic: The study protocol. PLoS One 2021
- Mindfulness and Affect-Network Density: Does Mindfulness Facilitate Disengagement from Affective Experiences in Daily Life? Mindfulness May 1, 2020
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