Technology supported mindfulness for obsessive compulsive disorder: Self-reported mindfulness and EEG correlates of mind wandering.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a consumer-grade EEG-based biofeedback device ("Muse") could enhance mindfulness meditation practices and improve OCD symptoms in individuals with OCD.
Results Summary
The study found that participants using the Muse device showed increased mindfulness (specifically "Non-Reactivity") and decreased mind wandering (evidenced by increased alpha and beta band power), which were associated with subsequent improvements in OCD symptoms. The intervention group outperformed the waitlist control group in these measures.
Population
Individuals with a principal DSM-5 diagnosis of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) (N = 71).
Effective Dosage
Daily use of the "Muse" device (specific duration per session not specified).
Duration
Eight weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) incorporating Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) | neutral | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | - | - | is the most efficacious treatment intervention | #1 |
mindfulness based approaches | neutral | managing OCD symptoms | - | - | can be beneficial | #2 |
a consumer grade EEG-based biofeedback device (called "Muse") that permits individuals to engage in mindfulness meditation practices while at home | neutral | - | participants with a principal DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD | - | examined the potential benefits of using | #3 |
a meditation program involving daily use of the "Muse" device | increase | FFMQ "Non-Reactivity" | Participants in the Muse group (in comparison to the control group) | - | experienced increased | #4 |
a meditation program involving daily use of the "Muse" device | decrease | mind wandering | Participants in the Muse group (in comparison to the control group) | - | experienced decreased | #5 |
a meditation program involving daily use of the "Muse" device | increase | alpha and beta band power | Participants in the Muse group (in comparison to the control group) | - | experienced increased | #6 |
a meditation program involving daily use of the "Muse" device | decrease | OCD symptom improvement | Participants in the Muse group (in comparison to the control group) | - | were associated with subsequent | #7 |
technology supported mindfulness training for OCD | decrease | OCD symptoms | - | - | is associated with improvements in | #8 |
technology supported mindfulness training for OCD | increase | mindfulness | - | - | is associated with improvements in | #9 |
technology supported mindfulness training for OCD | decrease | decreased mind wandering | - | - | is associated with | #10 |
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) incorporating Exposure with Response Prevention (ERP) is the most efficacious treatment intervention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD); however, there is a growing literature indicating that mindfulness based approaches can be beneficial in terms of managing OCD symptoms. The current study examined the potential benefits of using a consumer grade EEG-based biofeedback device (called "Muse") that permits individuals to engage in mindfulness meditation practices while at home. In this randomized controlled study, participants with a principal DSM-5 diagnosis of OCD (N = 71) were randomly assigned to eight weeks of: 1) a meditation program involving daily use of the "Muse" device, or 2) waitlist control. At weeks 1, 4, and 8, participants completed a five minute "open monitoring" practice while EEG data was recorded, and they completed self-report measures of mindfulness (FFMQ: Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire) and OCD symptoms (YBOCS: Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale). Latent Difference Score (LDS) models demonstrated that the FFMQ "Non-Reactivity" facet and EEG-derived correlates of "Mind Wandering" (i.e., alpha, beta, but not delta or theta band power) were temporally associated with subsequent changes in YBOCS symptom scores. Participants in the Muse group (in comparison to the control group) experienced increased FFMQ "Non-Reactivity" and decreased mind wandering (increased alpha and beta band power), and in each case, these variables were associated with subsequent OCD symptom improvement. These results suggest that technology supported mindfulness training for OCD is associated with improvements in OCD symptoms, mindfulness and decreased mind wandering.