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Mindfulness plays an increasing role in the field of health psychology, since mindfulness-based interventions in prevention and rehabilitation can lead to a higher bodily well-being and quality of life. How valid is the measurement of self-reported mindfulness as a multidimensional construct using the German translation of the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)? The 39-item inventory was translated into German and presented to a sample of 550 undergraduate students. The dimensional structure, reliability, and validity of the different scales were evaluated. Results were largely comparable to those obtained for the original English version of the FFMQ. As anticipated, the five-factor structure was largely replicated and expected associations with symptom distress and indicators of psychological and physical well-being were found. The German version of the FFMQ seems to be an economic, reliable, and valid questionnaire for assessing self-reported mindfulness in a multidimensional way.
During the past decade, theoretical approaches have emerged that call into question the presumption that self-esteem is an absolute prerequisite for healthy functioning. The present study addressed the question of whether a non-judgmental accepting stance towards experience moderates the relationship between self-esteem and depression. In a sample of 216 undergraduate students, self-esteem was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), acceptance with the ‘accept without judgment’ subscale of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (Baer, Smith, & Allen, 2004), and depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1987). Results showed that non-judgmental acceptance moderates the relationship between self-esteem and depression. In persons with low mindful acceptance, self-esteem was much more closely associated with depression than in persons with high mindful acceptance. These findings suggest that an accepting, allowing, and non-judgmental stance towards present-moment experience might buffer the detrimental effects of low self-esteem on depression.
During the past decade, theoretical approaches have emerged that call into question the presumption that self-esteem is an absolute prerequisite for healthy functioning. The present study addressed the question of whether a non-judgmental accepting stance towards experience moderates the relationship between self-esteem and depression. In a sample of 216 undergraduate students, self-esteem was assessed with the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), acceptance with the ‘accept without judgment’ subscale of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (Baer, Smith, & Allen, 2004), and depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck & Steer, 1987). Results showed that non-judgmental acceptance moderates the relationship between self-esteem and depression. In persons with low mindful acceptance, self-esteem was much more closely associated with depression than in persons with high mindful acceptance. These findings suggest that an accepting, allowing, and non-judgmental stance towards present-moment experience might buffer the detrimental effects of low self-esteem on depression.
During the past decade, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) aiming at relapse prevention in depression has been developed and empirically tested. All exercises taught during MBCT are based on the development of a heightened awareness of one's body. The important role of the body is also stressed in a recently emerging interdisciplinary field of research termed ‘embodiment.’ This research program focuses on the interactions between bodily, cognitive, and emotional processes. Based on the obvious role of the body in MBCT and on the theoretical and empirical evidence highlighting the role of the body in emotional processes, we argue that considering embodied processes might be a useful perspective for research on the etiology of depression and for mechanisms of action in MBCT.
Identifying effective and sustainable treatments for chronic depression is a key issue in current psychiatric research. However, there are only very few psychotherapy studies that report follow-up effects. For the only specific psychological approach to the treatment of chronic depression, the Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP), preliminary follow-up studies [2-4] showed promising results. For Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for treatment-resistant depression, there is only one follow-up study [5]. Up to now, no results comparing follow-up data between MBCT and CBASP have been available. The present study investigated the follow-up of a randomized controlled trial comparing CBASP and MBCT (both applied in a group format) with treatment-as-usual (TAU) in patients with chronic depression. In addition, the moderating role of childhood adversities on outcomes was explored.
BACKGROUND:Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a very disabling condition with a chronic course, if left untreated. Though cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) with or without selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) is the method of choice, up to one third of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) do not respond to treatment in terms of at least 35% improvement of symptoms. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week group program that could help OCD patients with no or only partial response to CBT to reduce OC symptoms and develop a helpful attitude towards obsessions and compulsive urges.
METHODS/DESIGN:
This study is a prospective, bicentric, assessor-blinded, randomized, actively-controlled clinical trial. 128 patients with primary diagnosis of OCD according to DSM-IV and no or only partial response to CBT will be recruited from in- and outpatient services as well as online forums and the media. Patients will be randomized to either an MBCT intervention group or to a psycho-educative coaching group (OCD-EP) as an active control condition. All participants will undergo eight weekly sessions with a length of 120 minutes each of a structured group program. We hypothesize that MBCT will be superior to OCD-EP in reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms as measured by the Yale-Brown-Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) following the intervention and at 6- and 12-months-follow-up. Secondary outcome measures include depressive symptoms, quality of life, metacognitive beliefs, self-compassion, mindful awareness and approach-avoidance tendencies as measured by an approach avoidance task.
DISCUSSION:
The results of this study will elucidate the benefits of MBCT for OCD patients who did not sufficiently benefit from CBT. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled study assessing the effects of MBCT on symptom severity and associated parameters in OCD.
BackgroundCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the first-line treatment for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, not all of them achieve remission on a longterm basis. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) represents a new 8-week group therapy program whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in various mental disorders, but has not yet been applied to patients with OCD.
The present pilot study aimed to qualitatively assess the subjective experiences of patients with OCD who participated in MBCT.
Method
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients suffering from OCD directly after 8 sessions of a weekly MBCT group program. Data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis.
Results
Participants valued the treatment as helpful in dealing with their OCD and OCD-related problems. Two thirds of the patients reported a decline in OCD symptoms. Benefits included an increased ability to let unpleasant emotions surface and to live more consciously in the present. However, participants also discussed several problems.
Conclusion
The data provide preliminary evidence that patients with OCD find aspects of the current MBCT protocol acceptable and beneficial. The authors suggest to further explore MBCT as a complementary treatment strategy for OCD.
Empirical evidence for the effectiveness of mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy (MBCT) is encouraging. However, dataconcerning the role of mindfulness in its relapse preventive effect
are lacking. In our study, 25 formerly depressed patients received
MBCT. Mindfulness was assessed before and immediately after
MBCT using the Mindful Attention and Awareness Scale. Mindfulness significantly increased during MBCT, and posttreatment levels
of mindfulness predicted the risk of relapse/recurrence to major
depressive disorder in the 12-month follow-up period. Mindfulness
predicted the risk of relapse/recurrence after controlling for numbers
of previous episodes and residual depressive symptoms. The results
provide preliminary evidence for the notion that mindfulness is an
important factor in relapse prevention in major depression.
Objective: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has recently been proposed as a treatment option for chronic depression. The cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP) is the only approach specifically developed to date for the treatment of chronically depressed patients. The efficacy of MBCT plus treatment-as-usual (TAU), and CBASP (group version) plus TAU, was compared to TAU alone in a prospective, bicenter, randomized controlled trial. Method: One hundred and six patients with a current DSM–IV defined major depressive episode and persistent depressive symptoms for more than 2 years were randomized to TAU only (N = 35), or to TAU with additional 8-week group therapy of either 8 sessions of MBCT (n = 36) or CBASP (n = 35). The primary outcome measure was the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (24-item HAM-D, Hamilton, 1967) at the end of treatment. Secondary outcome measures were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) and measures of social functioning and quality of life. Results: In the overall sample as well as at 1 treatment site, MBCT was no more effective than TAU in reducing depressive symptoms, although it was significantly superior to TAU at the other treatment site. CBASP was significantly more effective than TAU in reducing depressive symptoms in the overall sample and at both treatment sites. Both treatments had only small to medium effects on social functioning and quality of life. Conclusions: Further studies should inquire whether the superiority of CBASP in this trial might be explained by the more active, problem-solving, and interpersonal focus of CBASP.