心理学と心理療法のジャーナル
オープンアクセス

概要

Effects of Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Depression and Role Impairment in a Comorbid Psychiatric Population

Munira Mohamed, Alexa Fine, Kathryn Fotinos, Andrew Welch, Kate Kitchen, Marci Rose, David Hallett, Michele Davis, Constantina Tsirgielis, Christina D’Ambrosio, Leena Anand, Melissa Furtado and Martin A Katzman

Objective: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has demonstrated positive effects in reducing psychological symptoms associated with disorders such as anxiety and depression. The purpose of this study is to determine whether participating in a 10 week group program of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) would affect symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as disability status of outpatients who present naturalistically with comorbid mood and anxiety disorders to a tertiary care centre. Methods: Outpatients were referred by a healthcare professional to the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy group program. Individuals were assessed for psychiatric diagnoses using the MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview. Participants were randomized to an intervention group (n=30) or a waitlist control group (n=33) of outpatients. Participants completed packages of outcome measures including the BDI, BAI, SCL-90-R, DEQ, RSQ and SDI before, immediately following and three months after participation in the 10 week MBCT program. Results: Significant differences between groups were found for BDI depression severity scores (p<0.05) and for level of impairment in work (p<0.05) and social/leisure (p<0.05) activities as measured by the SDI. Differences across groups were not found on the SCL-90-R depression subscale, the SCL-90-R anxiety subscale or on the BAI. Likewise, differences between groups were not seen for both the rumination and distraction subscales of the RSQ. Conclusion: Group MBCT shows preliminary efficacy in reducing symptoms of depression and improving functional status in a highly comorbid psychiatric population, many of whom had not reached full remission from depressive symptoms prior to program participation. Overall a 9% reduction in BDI scores was observed in participants randomized to the intervention group. MBCT may also be a useful treatment for individuals with mild to moderate depression. Ultimately, when used as an adjunctive treatment to individual’s typical psychiatric treatment, MBCT may lead to improved management of mood and anxiety disorder symptoms and quality of life. Recommendations for future empirical inquiry are presented.