Abstract
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been demonstrated to be successful in the prevention of relapse in patients
with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). With regard to its working mechanisms, it is hypothesized that mindfulness
meditation influences the processing of emotional information and that it could therefore reduce cognitive vulnerability factors
that are observed during and after remission of depressive episodes. In this study we investigated the effects of an 8 week
MBCT training versus no intervention on the facilitation and inhibition of attention for sad versus happy faces in a group
of people with a history of MDD, N = 45. The comparison group consisted of a non-treatment seeking group with a history of
MDD, recruited from the community, N = 26. At baseline, we found that formerly depressed patients who applied for MBCT training
inhibited attention for positive information, and showed facilitation of attention for negative information. However, the
comparison group did not show similar attentional characteristics. After MBCT, participants showed a reduced facilitation
of attention for negative information and a reduced inhibition of attention for positive information, which is indicative
of open attention towards all emotional information.
with recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD). With regard to its working mechanisms, it is hypothesized that mindfulness
meditation influences the processing of emotional information and that it could therefore reduce cognitive vulnerability factors
that are observed during and after remission of depressive episodes. In this study we investigated the effects of an 8 week
MBCT training versus no intervention on the facilitation and inhibition of attention for sad versus happy faces in a group
of people with a history of MDD, N = 45. The comparison group consisted of a non-treatment seeking group with a history of
MDD, recruited from the community, N = 26. At baseline, we found that formerly depressed patients who applied for MBCT training
inhibited attention for positive information, and showed facilitation of attention for negative information. However, the
comparison group did not show similar attentional characteristics. After MBCT, participants showed a reduced facilitation
of attention for negative information and a reduced inhibition of attention for positive information, which is indicative
of open attention towards all emotional information.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10608-011-9411-x
- Authors
- Rudi De Raedt, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Saskia Baert, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Ineke Demeyer, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Ellen Goeleven, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- An Raes, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Adriaan Visser, Rotterdam University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Michel Wysmans, MAIA Foundation, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Erik Jansen, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Rik Schacht, RGC Terneuzen, Terneuzen, The Netherlands
- Joël R. Van Aalderen, UMC St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Anne Speckens, UMC St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Journal Cognitive Therapy and Research
- Online ISSN 1573-2819
- Print ISSN 0147-5916