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Technology supported mindfulness for obsessive compulsive disorder: Self-reported mindfulness and EEG correlates of mind wandering.

Behaviour research and therapy
January 1, 2021
Lance L Hawley et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

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.

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ElectroencephalographyHumansMindfulnessObsessive-Compulsive DisorderSelf ReportTechnology
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations20
Citations/Year5.0
Relative Citation Ratio2.52
NIH Percentile80.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.80
Normalized Score0.72
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