Observations placeholder

Behav Res Ther. 2013 Jul;51(7):338-43. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2013.03.006. Epub 2013 Apr 6. The association between meditation practice and treatment outcome in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for bipolar disorder. Perich T, Manicavasagar V, Mitchell PB, Ball JR. Black Dog Institute, Hospital Rd, Randwick, NSW, Australia. t.perich@unsw.edu.au

This study aimed to examine the impact of quantity of mindfulness meditation practice on the outcome of psychiatric symptoms following Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for those diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Meditation homework [sic!] was collected at the beginning of each session for the MBCT program to assess quantity of meditation practice. Clinician-administered measures of hypo/mania and depression along with self-report anxiety, depression and stress symptom questionnaires were administered pre-, post-treatment and at 12-month follow-up.

A significant correlation was found between a greater number of days meditated throughout the 8-week trial and clinician-rated depression scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale at 12-month follow-up.

There were significant differences found between those who meditated for 3 days a week or more and those who meditated less often on trait anxiety post-treatment and clinician-rated depression at 12-month follow-up whilst trends were noted for self-reported depression.

A greater number of days meditated during the 8-week MBCT program was related to lower depression scores at 12-month follow-up, and there was evidence to suggest that mindfulness meditation practice was associated with improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms if a certain minimum amount (3 times a week or more) was practiced weekly throughout the 8-week MBCT program.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 23639299