05-10-2022 | ORIGINAL PAPER
Individual Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Major Depression: a Feasibility Study
Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 11/2022
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Objectives
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is currently used as a group therapy; however, there is little evidence regarding the use of individual MBCT (I-MBCT). The primary objective of this pilot trial was to test the feasibility of I-MBCT for major depression in a pilot randomized study using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a control condition.
Methods
This parallel two-arm pilot trial was conducted in Canada. Adult participants with major depression were recruited from a tertiary care hospital and two private practice psychiatrists between November 2015 and October 2017. The participants were randomized to receive 12 weeks of I-MBCT or individual CBT. Depression, mindfulness, and rumination were measured at the beginning, middle, and end of the treatment and at 8 weeks follow-up.
Results
Among the 51 participants initially screened, 52.9% were randomized to I-MBCT (n = 14) or CBT (n = 13). The attrition rate was 29.6%, and 59.3% of the participants were involved in the follow-up. The average attendance rate of the I-MBCT was 9.0 sessions (SD = 4.6). Depression and rumination decreased during the I-MBCT (B = − 1.20, p < 0.001 and B = − 0.60, p < 0.006; within-group effect size: drm = − 1.22 and drm = − 0.83, respectively), and mindfulness increased (B = 2.08, p < 0.003; within-group effect size: drm = 1.31). The decrease in rumination levels during I-MBCT was larger than during CBT (interaction between time and treatment, B (SE) = − 0.57 (0.25), p = 0.03); there were no significant between-group differences for changes in depression and mindfulness.
Conclusions
A trial comparing I-MBCT to CBT among patients with major depressive disorder seems feasible; however, the sample size should consider the high attrition rate.
Trial Registration
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05108701, November 5, 2021.