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A qualitative study of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression
Abstract
Psychotherapeutic interventions containing training in mindfulness meditation have been shown to help participants with a variety of somatic and psychological conditions. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a meditation-based psychotherapeutic intervention designed to help reduce the risk of relapse of recurrent depression. There is encouraging early evidence from multi-centre randomized controlled trials. However, little is known of the process by which MBCT may bring therapeutic benefits. This study set out to explore participants' accounts of MBCT in the mental-health context. Seven participants were interviewed in two phases. Interview data from four participants were obtained in the weeks following MBCT. Grounded theory techniques were used to identify several categories that combine to describe the ways in which mental-health difficulties arose as well as their experiences of MBCT. Three further participants who have continued to practise MBCT were interviewed so as to further validate, elucidate and extend these categories. The theory suggested that the preconceptions and expectations of therapy are important influences on later experiences of MBCT. Important areas of therapeutic change ('coming to terms') were identified, including the development of mindfulness skills, an attitude of acceptance and 'living in the moment'. The development of mindfulness skills was seen to hold a key role in the development of change. Generalization of these skills to everyday life was seen as important, and several ways in which this happened, including the use of breathing spaces, were discussed. The study emphasized the role of continued skills practice for participants' therapeutic gains. In addition, several of the concepts and categories offered support to cognitive accounts of mood disorder and the role of MBCT in reducing relapse.
... In previous qualitative research, women have reported the benefits they experienced from pausing and breathing, developing an attitude of acceptance, and being in the present moment and that these are all core aspects of mindfulness they have used to help them cope with pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting [58]. These identified themes are consistent with those of earlier qualitative analyses, especially acceptance [59,60]. The value of having a supportive group experience has also been highlighted [60]. ...
... These identified themes are consistent with those of earlier qualitative analyses, especially acceptance [59,60]. The value of having a supportive group experience has also been highlighted [60]. The qualitative component of another study also supported the quantitative findings, indicating the potential of mindfulness practices to significantly improve women's wellbeing during pregnancy [61]. ...
... Participants reported that stopping, breathing, and noticing, developing an attitude of acceptance and connecting with the present moment, which are core aspects of mindfulness, helped them cope with pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting challenges. The main themes identified in the current analysis, especially regarding the changes attributed to the practice of mindfulness, are consistent with those of earlier qualitative analysis, especially the concept of acceptance [59][60][61]. Improved ability to cope with challenging emotions and pain also emerged as a main theme among participants and may have contributed to program adherence. Connecting to body, breath, and baby inside was another important theme emerging from the data. ...
This feasibility study sought to investigate the impact of an online 9-session Prenatal Mindfulness Relationship-Based (PMRB) group treatment program upon maternal mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress), interoception, and mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum. The study was designed in two parts 1) a quantitative examination of pre, post-treatment and 10-12 weeks post-partum measures targeting 13 pregnant women from a non-clinical population and 2) a qualitative exploration of the same pregnant women’s experiences of the PMRB program reported during the sessions, including their birth stories. Responses to an open-ended question about how the program had supported them during pregnancy, labor/birth and the first post-partum trimester were summarised using thematic analysis. Women (N = 36) were recruited to the non-randomised feasibility study and 13 were allocated to the PMRB program. Women were excluded due to the online recruitment timeframe, missing baseline gestational age and unavailability for the proposed time. All the allocated women completed the program during pregnancy and the baseline and post-treatment surveys. There were 12 women who completed the post-partum follow-up. Only one participant was lost to the follow up for unknown reasons. Results revealed an improvement in mindfulness, depression, interoception and mother-infant relationship post-treatment and at postpartum follow-up. The qualitative analysis led to the identification of 16 themes, which were organized in four categories describing the experience of participants. Findings provide preliminary support for the feasibility of the PMRB program to improve maternal mindfulness, interoception, mental wellbeing and mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum. The qualitative evaluation suggested the PMRB program may help women cope with emotional challenges and be more connected to their bodies and infant. The program may also help women become more aware of their unborn infant as a sentient being and the influence of their health and mental wellbeing on the infant development and health. Furthermore, it may be a facilitator of the mother-infant relationship during pregnancy and post-partum, promoting infant’s healthy development.
... Tandis que les malades et leurs proches affirment les bienfaits de l'écoute de Radio Maria, beaucoup d'études attestent le rôle de la spiritualité sur la santé du corps comme par exemple la réduction des risques des maladies physiques. 13 Les malades en état de crise ont souvent des tentations de refus de la vie ou de suicide. C'est comme s'ils étaient dans l'ombre de la mort. ...
... 12 Vatican II, ( Appendice) Les seize documents conciliaires, Fides, Montréal&Paris, 1967, 652. 13 directement un impact sur tout l'organisme de l'être humain et ainsi, les hormones qui disposent la personne humaine en état de joie commencent à fonctionner ; 15 l'espérance croît dans ce contexte. ...
Radio Maria is a means of Christian telecommunication whose program content includes sacred music, mass, prayer, Catholic teaching, discussions with people of different categories, news etc. This research focused on Radio Maria with the objective of discovering its anthropo-spiritual impact on the hope of its audience in Rwanda. The sample was taken from the patients of the Parish of Kisaro visited between January 2021 and April 2021. We ran with the hypotheses that listeners of Radio Maria could discover the increasing hope in their lives when they listen to the Radio Maria. To make a hermeneutic and critical approach, the methods used in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data were historical, analytical, qualitative and quantitative. The results of our research revealed the growth of hope through the reduction of refusal of life and suicide attempt 78%, the reduction of divorce attempt 73%, the increase in parents of the concern for the well-being of their children 71% , reduction in depression 88%, increase in self-control 84% and reduction in distress 92%. All these patients, after having started to listen to the programs of Radio Maria, 100% of them affirmed the growth of their hope. Their affirmation is corroborated by a scientific basis of the literature review that this research presented.
... In previous qualitative research, women have reported the benefits they experienced from pausing and breathing, developing an attitude of acceptance, and being in the present moment and that these are all core aspects of mindfulness they have used to help them cope with pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting (Dunn et al., 2012). These identified themes are consistent with those of earlier qualitative analyses, especially acceptance (Allen et al., 2009;Mason & Hargreaves, 2001). The value of having a supportive group experience has also been highlighted (Mason & Hargreaves, 2001). ...
... These identified themes are consistent with those of earlier qualitative analyses, especially acceptance (Allen et al., 2009;Mason & Hargreaves, 2001). The value of having a supportive group experience has also been highlighted (Mason & Hargreaves, 2001). The qualitative component of a cohort study also supported the quantitative findings, indicating the potential of mindfulness practices to significantly improve women's well-being during pregnancy (Woolhouse et al., 2014). ...
Background
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of significant transition for women, with changes in maternal physical and mental health. The formation of a relationship between a mother and her baby is vital and has been recognised as laying the foundation for later child development. There is considerable evidence that this early relationship is influenced by a woman’s well-being during pregnancy and in the early post-partum period. Mindfulness-based programs have previously revealed positive outcomes, primarily in reducing maternal stress, anxiety, and depression. However, there remains a need for considering the influence of mindfulness on the mother-baby relationship and embodiment during pregnancy and the first trimester post-partum. This study aimed to conduct an in-depth exploration of pregnant women’s experiences of a nine-session prenatal mindfulness relationship-based (PMRB) program to support its feasibility.
Methods
Information about pregnant women’s (n = 13) experiences of the PMRB program was collected through online interviews during the sessions, including their birth stories. Responses to an open-ended question about how the program had supported them during pregnancy, labour/birth, and the first post-partum trimester were summarised using thematic analysis.
Results
Sixteen themes were identified and organised in four categories: (1) expectations and motivations (healthy pregnancy and mental health, non-medicalised birth, contribution to the field); (2) experiences of the PMRB program (positive experiences, shared experience, engagement with mindfulness practices, pain, stress, and anxiety relief); (3) changes attributed to the PMRB program (a new way of responding to stressors, trusting the process, connecting to body, breath, and unborn baby, awareness of the unborn baby as a sentient being); (4) changes attributed to the mindfulness practice (increased mindfulness/self-awareness, stop look listen, embracing the moment, acceptance).
Conclusions
The evaluation suggested the PMRB program may help women cope with pain and emotional challenges and be more connected to their bodies and infant. The program may also help women become more aware of their unborn baby as a sentient being and the influence of their health and mental well-being on the baby development and health. Furthermore, the program may facilitate the mother-baby relationship during pregnancy, post-partum, and breastfeeding.
Preregistration
The trial has been successfully registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) following ethical approval from Bond University Human Research Ethics Committee (BUHREC—Application AS03534, approved 20 December 2022) and allocated the Australian clinical trials registration number (ACTRN): ACTRN12623000679684.
... second involves present awareness of the moment's experience. This mindset also led to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression (MBCT) [37,38]. ...
This chapter delves into the multifaceted relationship that self-rumination has with depression and suicidality through psychological, neurological, and linguistic lenses. It explores how self-focused thoughts and language contribute to depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviors. The psychological section examines the self-focus model, differentiates between rumination and reflection, and highlights their impacts on happiness and social functioning. The neurological section investigates brain areas like the default mode network, medial prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex, focusing on the roles of these regions in self-referential processing and emotional regulation. The linguistic section discusses how language use, particularly self-focused language, reflects underlying psychological conditions and ruminative patterns. Finally, the chapter synthesizes the observations of the relevant studies, with the aim of providing a comprehensive understanding of how self-rumination exacerbates depression and suicidality.
... While there are various meditation styles, all types incorporate self-observation of mental activity, attention training, and cultivating an attitude that highlights process rather than content. 34 Meditation studies show positive benefit for a variety of symptoms related to posttraumatic stress disorder such as depressive symptoms or relapse, [35][36][37][38][39][40][41] anxiety, 40,42-45 suicidal behavior, 46 and sleep disturbances. 47,48 Meditation may affect posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms through attention training, improving prefrontal cortex activity and autonomic nervous system function, changing thought patterns, increasing emotional acceptance and reducing avoidance, and regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. ...
Objectives
To (1) characterize complementary and alternative medicine studies for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, (2) evaluate the quality of these studies, and (3) systematically grade the scientific evidence for individual CAM modalities for posttraumatic stress disorder.
Design
Systematic review. Eight data sources were searched. Selection criteria included any study design assessing posttraumatic stress disorder outcomes and any complementary and alternative medicine intervention. The body of evidence for each modality was assessed with the Natural Standard evidence-based, validated grading rationale.
Results and Conclusions
Thirty-three studies (n = 1329) were reviewed. Scientific evidence of benefit for posttraumatic stress disorder was strong for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and good for acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, and visualization. Evidence was unclear or conflicting for biofeedback, relaxation, Emotional Freedom and Thought Field therapies, yoga, and natural products. Considerations for clinical applications and future research recommendations are discussed.
... Of note are insights about the counterintuitive gesture of welcoming and working with difficult experience, which is central to MBSR and related programmes [7,53]. Qualitative accounts of participants experiences in mindfulness programmes include reports of reluctance to engage with difficult experience [54], and finding it harder to meditate when stressed [55]. RPs in this study applied the WRM to give meaning to such experiences and to articulate the challenge of this important aspect of MBSR, thereby succeeding in staying engaged with it. ...
This article examines the practice of combining explorations of regulated and dysregulated states through the Workable Ranges Model (WRM) with the skills and qualities taught in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). MBSR was designed to help participants to self-regulate stress. Didactic teaching about stress reactivity is part of the curriculum and may contribute to positive outcomes. A practice-based embodied methodology utilised mindful inquiry in research methods. Seven graduates of MBSR courses that included the WRM became conceptual encounter research partners. Following a re-presentation of the WRM, data were gathered through a diagrammatic diary exercise, post-meditation inquiry and a group discussion. Reflexive thematic analysis identified an overarching theme that the WRM was a dynamic map for exploring stability and stress. Two non-hierarchical themes articulated interrelated self-reflective activities associated with using the WRM as a map. Mapping involved charting regulated and dysregulated embodied experience. Meeting was the embodied application to mindfulness practice. Modulating states through intentional orienting to and resourcing mindful self-regulation and self-care grew out of the mapping and meeting practices. The WRM provided a form and set of words to name mind-body states, and to develop and apply insights about them. The WRM was used to shape new meanings about the relationship between mindfulness and regulated and dysregulated experience. This is theorised through its connection with embodied metaphors. The combination of the WRM and mindfulness worked to frame and progress mindful self-regulation. The WRM may be a valuable resource for mindfulness teachers to support self-regulation and mental health.
... ed finding the yamiliarfanr' of thegmup a supportive and learning experience" (p. 203). Therefore, it is possible that teaching mindfulness in a group format is important. Future research could investigate whether the same style of presentation of single techniques but delivered in a group format might have a more significant impact on the results.Mason and Hargreaves (2001) also describe a second factor, that of "coming to term/", which might be important in the current study. The concept of `coming to terms' is described as containing both participants' internalisation of the course, in terms of attitude and skills etc, as well as their personal experiences relating to attendance and practice. What they h ...
p>The literature on mindfulness as a clinical intervention has rapidly expanded in recent years but questions about its use and effectiveness remain unanswered, one of which concerns the active agents of change. The current study aimed to investigate two specific techniques which currently form part of larger mindfulness training packages: mindful breathing and the body scan. 59 university undergraduates were recruited and were tested on a number of measures of stress tolerance, psychological symptoms and affect, as well as attention and mindfulness skills. A range of mixed design ANOVA statistics are calculated but no significant effect of training in either technique is reported. The study suggests that non-specific factors, such as membership of a group, might be important in the success of mindfulness training.</p
... This work explains how promoting spiritual development helps to enhance quality of life and how spiritual experience and convictions can be complementary of or even integrated into professional work with clients. (Cullen, n.d.;Delaney et al., 2006;Mason & Hargreaves, 2001;Brown & Ryan, 2003). ...
This study addresses the potential role of spirituality in promoting mental health and wellbeing and argues for its utility in the helping professions. Spirituality, as a common human orientation, has long been a central notion in recovery movements. In the first part of the paper the author discusses the differences and overlaps between spirituality and its traditional form, religion. In the second part a questionnaire was used to study laypersons’, and professional helpers’ views on spirituality. The convenience sample comprised 137 persons. Professionals could find spirituality an important resource in their practice and included it in their interventions mainly when their clients had introduced the theme first. Most of the laypersons in the sample were concerned with spiritual issues and regularly practiced meditation or prayer. They conceived spirituality to cope with mental or physical illnesses.
Neuroelectric and imaging studies of meditation are reviewed. Electroencephalographic measures indicate an overall slowing subsequent to meditation, with theta and alpha activation related to proficiency of practice. Sensory evoked potential assessment of concentrative meditation yields amplitude and latency changes for some components and practices. Cognitive event-related potential evaluation of meditation implies that practice changes attentional allocation. Neuroimaging studies indicate increased regional cerebral blood flow measures during meditation. Taken together, meditation appears to reflect changes in anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal areas. Neurophysiological meditative state and trait effects are variable but are beginning to demonstrate consistent outcomes for research and clinical applications. Psychological and clinical effects of meditation are summarized, integrated, and discussed with respect to neuroimaging data.
In ‘The Great Discourse on the Establishing of Mindfulness’, the Buddha mentioned “There is this one way for the purification of beings, for overcoming sorrow and lamentation, for extinguishing of stress and suffering, for attaining to higher knowledge, and for the realisation of liberation” (Digha Nikaya 22). This ‘one way’ is the application of mindfulness meditation on body, feelings, mind, and phenomena. Such wisdom words of an enlightened teacher uttered more than 2,500 years ago are timeless truths which modern science has just begun to uncover.
For four decades since Jon Kabat-Zinn founded the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical School to introduce the structured practice of mindfulness, the interest in mindfulness and other forms of meditation has grown exponentially. Meditation is no longer merely a spiritual quest practised at secluded religious centres but a mainstream mind-body therapy for health and wellbeing. Meditation classes are everywhere: hospitals, mental health clinics, nursing homes, the military, correctional centres, sports centres, universities, schools, and even in nurseries. Research has played a pivotal role to usher in this newfound interest in meditation. There is growing evidence supporting the health benefits of meditation in reducing stress, managing pain, enhancing cognition, improving resilience, cultivating positive emotions, and much more. However, cumulative knowledge on the study of meditation from various research disciplines including neuroscience, psychophysiology, cognitive science, mental health and public health represent only the tip of the iceberg. There is still much to discover from these ancient mind and body practices.
This book is a compilation of recent research in the field of meditation. It provides a snapshot of exciting findings and developments such as the launch of a large-scale UK study to operationalise mindfulness in the mental health system, the possibility that Zen meditation can slow down cardiopulmonary ageing, a theoretical framework for describing meditation interventions in health research, the potential for meditation to address health inequality, the use of mindful self-compassion to enhance the wellbeing of adult learners, and the case study of a clinical psychologist and meditation teacher sharing her first-hand experience of living with spondylolisthesis in relative peace through applying mindfulness strategies. The included articles further contribute to our understanding of the role of meditation in health, defined by the World Health Organization as “not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, but a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing”.
It is an honour to be academic editors for this Special Issue and a great pleasure to review many insightful manuscripts first-hand. We wish to thank the publisher for this excellent opportunity to serve the research community. We are also grateful for the hard work and support provided by the editorial office to make this project a success. To all the authors, thank you for your contributions. To the readers, thank you for your interest. A plethora of quality works from the latest meditation research await in the following pages. May you gain many useful insights!
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