Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy improves polysomnographic and subjective sleep profiles in antidepressant users with sleep complaints.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness meditation training could improve sleep quality in depressed individuals with residual sleep complaints despite partial remission from antidepressant medication.
Results Summary
MBCT participants showed improvements in both objective (PSG) and subjective sleep measures, including decreased wake time and increased sleep efficiency, though sleep depth (stage 1 and slow-wave sleep) remained unchanged. Mindfulness meditation may offer a viable alternative to hypnotics for improving sleep continuity in this population.
Population
Depressed individuals with residual sleep complaints despite partial remission from antidepressant medication.
Effective Dosage
8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course (specific frequency not detailed).
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness meditation (MM) training | increase | self-reported and objectively measured polysomnographic (PSG) sleep profiles | depressed individuals who had achieved at least partial remission with ADM, but still had residual sleep complaints | - | improved | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) | increase | PSG and subjective measures of sleep | ADM users with sleep complaints | - | improved | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) | decrease | wake time | ADM users with sleep complaints | - | showed a pattern of decreased | #3 |
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) | increase | sleep efficiency | ADM users with sleep complaints | - | showed a pattern of increased | #4 |
mindfulness training | no change | sleep depth, as measured by stage 1 and slow-wave sleep | ADM users with sleep complaints | - | did not change | #5 |
Mindfulness meditation (MM) | increase | both objectively and subjectively measured sleep continuity | ADM users | - | is associated with increases in | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Many antidepressant medications (ADM) are associated with disruptions in sleep continuity that can compromise medication adherence and impede successful treatment. The present study investigated whether mindfulness meditation (MM) training could improve self-reported and objectively measured polysomnographic (PSG) sleep profiles in depressed individuals who had achieved at least partial remission with ADM, but still had residual sleep complaints. METHODS: Twenty-three ADM users with sleep complaints were randomized into an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) course or a waitlist control condition. Pre-post measurements included PSG sleep studies and subjectively reported sleep, residual depression symptoms. RESULTS: Compared to controls, the MBCT participants improved on both PSG and subjective measures of sleep. They showed a pattern of decreased wake time and increased sleep efficiency. Sleep depth, as measured by stage 1 and slow-wave sleep, did not change as a result of mindfulness training. CONCLUSIONS: MM is associated with increases in both objectively and subjectively measured sleep continuity in ADM users. MM training may serve as more desirable and cost-effective alternative to discontinuation or supplementation with hypnotics, and may contribute to a more sustainable recovery from depression.