Mindfulness in treatment-seeking adults with comorbid obsessive-compulsive and major depressive disorders: Mediating effects of obsessive beliefs and mental well-being.
Mohammad Asif Sheikh, Thaddeus Alfonso
Indian Journal of Psychiatry May 1, 2025 DOI: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_102_25 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational analysis of primary data Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Treatment-seeking adults with comorbid OCD and MDD |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Mediation Mental well-being Obsessive beliefs Obsessive-compulsive disorder Mindfulness therapy Mindfulness intervention Mindfulness-based therapy Stress reduction technique Mental health disorders Psychiatric conditions Mental illness Psychological disorders Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Psychological mechanisms Mediating pathways Psychological processes Therapeutic mechanisms Cognitive factors |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness was significantly associated with reduced symptom severity for both OCD and MDD, but obsessive beliefs and mental well-being mediated the relationship only for MDD, not for OCD. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions have shown promise in alleviating symptoms associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the specific mechanisms that drive these effects, mainly through obsessive beliefs and mental well-being, are seldom examined. To explore the mechanisms by which mindfulness influences symptom severity in adults with comorbid OCD and MDD, focusing on the mediating roles of obsessive beliefs and mental well-being. Primary data from 60 treatment-seeking adults with comorbid OCD and MDD were analyzed. Ordinary least-squares path analysis was employed to examine the mediating roles of obsessive beliefs and mental well-being in the relationship between mindfulness and the severity of OCD and MDD symptoms. Mindfulness was significantly associated with reduced symptom severity for both OCD (β = - 0.40, P < 0.001) and MDD (β = - 0.49, P < 0.001). For MDD, obsessive beliefs (β = - 0.20, P < 0.001) and mental well-being (β = - 0.33, P < 0.001) significantly mediated the relationship. In contrast, no significant indirect effects were observed for OCD symptoms through obsessive beliefs (β = - 0.10, P = 0.16) or mental well-being (β = - 0.08, P = 0.20). These findings highlight the distinct mechanisms of mindfulness in comorbid OCD and MDD, underscoring the importance of customized interventions based on specific pathways.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metacognitive awareness and prevention of relapse in depression: Empirical evidence. Residually depressed patients and nondepressed controls; recovered depressed patients | 2002 | Observational cohort with intervention components | |
| Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: fMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Patients with treatment-resistant depression | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 19 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Concomitant BDNF and sleep slow wave changes indicate ketamine-induced plasticity in major depressive disorder Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder | 2012 | Observational cohort | n = 30 |
| Altered peripheral immune profiles in treatment-resistant depression: response to ketamine and prediction of treatment outcome Healthy controls and actively depressed patients with treatment-resistant depression... | 2017 | Observational cohort | n = 59 |
Citations in the library
Cites 12
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Efficacy and Moderation of Mobile App–Based Programs for Mindfulness-Based Training, Self-Compassion Training, and Cognitive Behavioral Psychoeducation on Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Noninferiority Trial JMIR Mental Health July 29, 2018
and 7 more in the library