Examining Cognitive Mechanisms of Clinical Improvement Following Mindfulness Based Therapy for Depressed Individuals

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Depression
• Interventions: Behavioral: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT02457936
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

Depression one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Individuals suffering from depression typically exhibit impairments in various mental abilities, such as the ability to effectively direct and control attention and the ability to switch between thinking about different things and concepts (commonly referred to as "cognitive flexibility").

Mindfulness meditation training is a technique which involves focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. It has been well documented to improve depressive symptoms and prevent recurrence of depressive episodes, yet little is known about how mindfulness does so and what are the underlying mental mechanisms involved. Here the investigators propose to examine the efficacy of an 8-week mindfulness training program in improving the ability to direct and control attention, as well as in cognitive flexibility.

Individuals diagnosed with recurrent depression will undergo an 8-week mindfulness training program. Participants' depressive symptoms as well as their performance on measures of attention and cognitive flexibility will be examined. Participants will be assigned to mindfulness training or a wait-list control group. Half of the participants will be examined before and after the mindfulness training program and the other half will be tested 8-weeks apart and then begin their training.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-04
• Study First Submitted: 2015-05-20
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-05-27
• Study First Posted: 2015-05-29
• Primary Completion: 2016-04
• Study Completion: 2016-04
• Status Verified: 2017-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-11-18
• Last Update Posted: 2024-11-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 52

Inclusion Criteria

• Reporting dysphoria for at least two months prior
• HAM-D score of at least 11
• No history of psychiatric disorders of psychotic features, neurological disorders, or substance abuse in the past 6 months
• Verified age between 18-65 years old
• Had no suicidal attempts during the past six months
• No prior experience with MBCT or other systematic meditation programs

Exclusion Criteria

• History of psychosis, neurological disorder, and substance abuse for the past 6 months
• Suicide attempt in past 6 months
• Prior experience with MBCT or other systematic meditation program

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)	Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy	This group will receive 8 weeks of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Waiting list	Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy	This group will be tested twice 8-10 weeks apart and then receive 8 weeks of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in depressive symptoms as measured by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale	Once upon recruitment (baseline), and a second time at 8-10 weeks following the MBCT program
Change from baseline in attention regulation, as measured by the Attention Network Test	Once upon recruitment (baseline), and a second time at 8-10 weeks following the MBCT program
Change from baseline in cognitive flexibility, as measured by a computer task involving task-switching and by the Torrance Test for Creative Thinking	Once upon recruitment (baseline), and a second time at 8-10 weeks following the MBCT program

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States