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Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces the association between depressive symptoms and suicidal cognitions in patients with a history of suicidal depression.

Journal of consulting and clinical psychology
December 1, 2015
Thorsten Barnhofer et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness training could weaken the link between depressive symptoms and suicidal cognitions in patients with a history of suicidal depression.

Results Summary

The study found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) significantly weakened the association between depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking compared to control groups, suggesting it reduces vulnerability to relapse in suicidal depression.

Population

Previously suicidal patients with minimal to moderate depressive symptoms.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
decrease
association between depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking
patients with a history of suicidal depression
-
weaken the link between depressive symptoms and suicidal cognitions
#1
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
no change
suicidal cognitions related to levels of symptoms
patients with minimal to moderate symptoms at the time of assessment
-
no such relation
#2
cognitive psychoeducation (CPE)
increase
suicidal cognitions related to levels of symptoms
patients with minimal to moderate symptoms at the time of assessment
-
significantly related
#3
treatment as usual (TAU)
increase
suicidal cognitions related to levels of symptoms
patients with minimal to moderate symptoms at the time of assessment
-
significantly related
#4
training in mindfulness
decrease
vulnerability for relapse to suicidal depression
patients with a history of suicidal depression
-
reduce an important vulnerability for relapse to suicidal depression
#5
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In patients with a history of suicidal depression, recurrence of depressive symptoms can easily reactivate suicidal thinking. In this study, we investigated whether training in mindfulness, which is aimed at helping patients "decenter" from negative thinking, could help weaken the link between depressive symptoms and suicidal cognitions. METHOD: Analyses were based on data from a recent randomized controlled trial, in which previously suicidal patients were allocated to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), an active control treatment, cognitive psychoeducation (CPE), which did not include any meditation practice, or treatment as usual (TAU). After the end of the treatment phase, we compared the associations between depressive symptoms, as assessed through self-reports on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996), and suicidal thinking, as assessed through the Suicidal Cognitions Scale (Rudd et al., 2001). RESULTS: In patients with minimal to moderate symptoms at the time of assessment, comparisons of the correlations between depressive symptoms and suicidal cognitions showed significant differences between the groups. Although suicidal cognitions were significantly related to levels of symptoms in the 2 control groups, there was no such relation in the MBCT group. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that, in patients with a history of suicidal depression, training in mindfulness can help to weaken the association between depressive symptoms and suicidal thinking, and thus reduce an important vulnerability for relapse to suicidal depression.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMindfulnessRecurrenceSuicidal IdeationSuicide, AttemptedTreatment OutcomeCognitive Behavioral Therapy
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations37
Citations/Year3.7
Relative Citation Ratio1.99
NIH Percentile74.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score1.96
Normalized Score0.72
Related Supplements
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces the assoc... | Panacea Index