Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Training Research Articles

MBCT training in IAPT: the experience of the first UK government funded teacher training programme

Abstract This paper reports on the experience of the first cohort of cognitive behaviour therapists completing the first delivery of a UK government-funded mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) teacher-training. Trainees completed a new curriculum approved by NHS England and commissioned by Health Education England (HEE) that enabled them to teach MBCT in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services in England and to meet the criteria for registration for the British Association of Mindfulness-Based Approaches (BAMBA). The components of the training are described. Mixed quantitative and qualitative methods were used to assess the experiences of those trainees who completed that training. High levels of satisfaction were reported and the ‘embodiment’ of the trainers and supervisors was flagged as particularly significant. The retreat was experienced as a core component of the training that helped deepen mindfulness practice. Various challenges were identified, including from the retreat, technical difficulties and challenges with completion for a minority of trainees. Learning from the difficulties and responses to them are reported. Key learning aims (1) To understand the experience of trainees on an MBCT training programme for CBT therapists in Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services in England. (2) To identify key features of a training for CBT therapists that were experienced as helping or hindering learning. (3) To understand the content and issues involved in delivering a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy training.

Identifying patients with benign chronic intestinal failure on home parenteral nutrition in whom a psychological support intervention may improve quality of life.

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is the ultimate treatment for patients who suffering from chronic intestinal failure (CIF). We tested the feasibility and effects of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in patients on HPN. Because of the high dropout rate, however, we were next urged to develop and test a web-based coaching program (web-based MBCT). The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of MBCT with this web-based MBCT. A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted in a tertiary referral center for CIF in the Netherlands to evaluate the feasibility of both a MBCT and the internet-based MBCT intervention. In 2016 we included 17 patients in the MBCT group. These patients followed MBCT training. End of 2016 an internet-based online MBCT program was constructed for which we invited 14 patients and their caregivers. In the MBCT 5 out of 17 patients (29%) completed their therapy. Patients attributed positive effects to their acquired mindfulness skills and reported a better QoL. In the internet-based mindfulness therapy group 2 out of 14 patients (14%) fulfilled the training sessions. Also, six caregivers started the training in this latter group and one caregiver fulfilled the training. The study suggests that both MBCT and the internet-based MBCT are no feasible strategies to decrease disease burden and improve QoL for CIF patients and their caregivers due to the intensity of these programs on one side and the experienced physical limitations on the other. The patients who fulfilled the program were positive and use MBCT in daily practice.

Comparison of Mindfulness With and Without Practice Among Women in Custody

This study aimed to explore the effects of standardized mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and MBCT training without practice on the negative mood of women in custody. Eighty participants were assigned to the standard MBCT group, theoretical learning group, or waitlist control group. We assessed participants’ mindfulness, stress, depression, and anxiety before and after the interventions. The results showed that, compared with controls, participants in the standard MBCT course showed significant improvement in depression and state anxiety; they also showed significant improvement in perceived stress. Although similar effects on depression were observed in the theoretical learning group, this group did not show decreased anxiety. These findings suggest that practice plays a crucial role in MBCT’s effects on female prisoners’ mental health. This study provides important insights into the application of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) as promising treatments for improving responsivity factors of the risk–need–responsivity model for female incarcerated populations.

Effect of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program on Comprehensive Mental Health Problems of Chinese Undergraduates.

How best to support mental health of young people is an important public health challenge. More empirical researches are need to examine the relationship between mindfulness-based interventions and mental health in China. The present study reports results from a quasi-experiment following a one-group repeated-measures design which investigated the impact of a standard 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program in 81 Chinese undergraduates (14 males, 67 females, age 20.35 ± 1.35years). Data was collected using the Symptom Check List 90 (SCL90) at baseline, week 3, week 6 and week 8 in order to examine the trajectory of mental health changes during the MBCT training. The repeated measures analysis of variance showed that the decrease was significant in the scores of somatization (F = 13.432, P < 0.01), obsessive-compulsive symptoms (F = 43.954, P < 0.01), interpersonal sensitivity (F = 36.196, P < 0.01), depression (F = 25.914, P < 0.01), anxiety (F = 26.547, P < 0.01), hostility (F = 19.707, P < 0.01), phobic anxiety (F = 21.145, P < 0.01), paranoid ideation (F = 19.857, P < 0.01) and psychoticism (F = 32.833, P < 0.01). The findings from the present study show that a standard MBCT program may have positive impact on reduction in mental health problems in Chinese undergraduates. Further controlled studies with randomized designs are needed to investigate these promising results in more depth.

Seven days of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy improves attention and coping style

We designed a short-term training course in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for use with busy people with little time. We examined whether or not MBCT training would affect people's cognition. We assigned 44 participants with no prior experience with mindfulness techniques randomly to either an MBCT group or a control group. These participants then completed the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ). After having undergone 7 days of training, we assessed participants again with the TCSQ and they also completed the Attention Network Test. Results showed that orienting and executive control differed between the MBCT and control groups, but there was no difference between the 2 groups in alerting. The score for positive coping style was significantly enhanced in the group who had undergone MBCT training. Our findings suggest that MBCT can be an effective approach to improve individuals' attentional subsystem and coping style in a short time.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy Training on Anxiety of Death and Thoughts of Suicide of Patients With Cancer

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive group therapy (MBCT) on reducing suicidal thoughts and death anxiety of patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: This study was applied and semi-experimental conducted by using pre-test and post-test with a control group. The research community included all patients with cancer who referred to Shahid Mohammadi hospital in Bandar Abbas. It contained 30 cancer patients who were selected through purposive sampling method and randomly placed in two experimental and control groups (15 individuals per group). The members of both groups completed Templer’s death anxiety questionnaire and Beck's suicidal thoughts before and after the sessions of group therapy (within three months). Findings were analyzed by SPSS software and univariate covariance analysis (ANCOVA) test. Results: The results showed that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) training significantly reduced the suicidal thoughts and death anxiety in the experimental group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is essential that medical care and support forums related to refractory patients to reduce psychological symptoms in patients use mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in their treatment programs.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Intervention Program to Regulate Cognitive Emotion of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a training program for cognitive emotion regulation of patients with type 2 diabetes at psychiatric clinic. The Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) training program focused on the use of positive and negative strategies in cognitive emotion regulation. Participants were randomly assigned to MBCT group (n = 15) and non-MBCT group (n = 13). The research variables were measured at baseline and after the MBCT intervention, and at a 4-month follow-up for the MBCT group. The MBCT training program was effective in significantly increasing patients' positive strategies use and reducing patients' negative strategies use. MBCT program gains were maintained at the 4-month follow-up. This study shows that MBCT program can protect patients with type 2 diabetes to regulate cognitive emotion during a defect in the secretion of insulin.

Determining the Effectiveness of Cognitive Therapy on Mindfulness-Based in Marital Fatigue and Women Intimacy

This research aimed at determining the effectiveness of cognitive therapy based on mindfulness in marital fatigue and married women intimacy. The semi-experimental research design with witness group and evaluation for pretest-posttest was used. The study population consisted of married women, referred to health counseling center in the 1st district of Tehran during 2016 and lasted about 1 year. Using random sampling method, were selected 30 married women referred to health counseling center in the 1st district of Tehran, whom the main reason for their visit was declared incompatibility and marital conflict. And 15 of those who would like to participate in training mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, were in the experimental group and 15 others were in the witness group. For experimental group, were presented mindfulness-based interventions in 8 sessions every session in one and a half hours. In this study, to collect data was to use two questionnaires: measure marital intimacy and marital fatigue. After collecting the results, data were entered into the software Spss and assumptions were evaluated using analysis of covariance. The results showed that the average of experimental group compared with the control group after the intervention health was significantly different in variables like: physical fatigue, mental disability, emotional banality, and intimacy (p = 0.001). According to the findings above, it can be concluded that a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy training can reduce marital fatigue and as well as significantly effective in intimacy.

Becoming a more mindful practitioner: the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-based CBT course in meeting training needs for clinical staff in adult mental health Urgent Care services

AbstractThis paper describes a service development which arose from an adult mental health inpatient ward team who wanted to be able to work more effectively to help patients who had major difficulties with emotion regulation. It was proposed that enhancing mindfulness through a Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme within the core staff team would enhance therapeutic milieu and therefore general outcomes associated with engagement and recovery. The training delivered was an adapted 8-week MBCT programme. A double baseline design was used with measures taken at 1 month before training and immediately before the programme started. Standardized and non-standardized measures were administered at pre-, mid-, post-, and 1-month follow-up points. Workshops and interviews supported the investigation of staff experience and impact of MBCT training. Participants in the training were nursing and occupational therapy staff. The trainer was the first author (C.M.), who is a cognitive behavioural therapist and mindfulness teacher at Newcastle Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies Centre, specializing in emotion regulation and stabilization. Results showed that staff reported a significant increase in mindfulness which had a positive impact upon their wellbeing and perceived ability to respond skilfully to challenging situations at work and at home. Gains were mostly in the first half of training but were maintained to the end and to follow-up. This adapted mindfulness training course appeared to be effective in meeting the need for a group of clinical staff to develop mindfulness. The potential impact upon patient engagement has been identified but further research into this area is indicated.

The Development of a MBCT Self-Assessment Scale

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) continues to gain evidential support as an intervention to impact on relapse and recurrence of depression. Researchers and MBCT Clinicians seek higher levels of treatment fidelity to maximise positive outcomes, through the use of treatment manuals, assessment scales and other supporting tools. Semi-structured group interviews with MBCT trained clinicians and subsequent thematic analysis, identified core elements of a new MBCT Self-Assessment scale and benefits, challenges, and enablers to implementation of MBCT training. The study findings support inclusion of an MBCT-Self Assessment Scale in MBCT Program implementation and suggest a range of other practical strategies for improved treatment fidelity.

Training Clinicians to Deliver a Mindfulness Intervention

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a relatively new therapeutic approach that is rooted in mindfulness-based stress reduction and cognitive behavioral therapy. Leading MBCT requires a radically different method than other forms of group facilitation. We are currently conducting a multi-site, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a mindfulness intervention for individuals with a traumatic brain injury where the development of the facilitators' capacity to provide the intervention is as important to the study as the RCT component itself. Thus, the first year of the study was devoted to training ten clinicians to deliver the intervention. The training included a 2-day retreat to introduce mindfulness, teleconferences, support from an experienced instructor and other facilitators within the group, a 5-day professional MBCT training program, and the development of a personal meditation practice. It culminated with trialing the intervention with “healthy” participants (e.g., friends, family, colleagues). Sessions from six facilitators were recorded and assessed by an external reviewer experienced in the delivery of MBCT who provided qualitative feedback. Four facilitators demonstrated consistency and adherence to the skills assessed. Upon completion of the trial intervention, 93.5 % of healthy group participants indicated that the classes were engaging or stimulating and 96.9 % reported that they used the skills acquired. We feel we provided a training program that remained flexible to the needs of the facilitators.

Changes in Attentional Processing of Emotional Information Following Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in People with a History of Depression: Towards an Open Attention for all Emotional Experiences

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.

Clinical compassion

Sometimes, people coming into specialist palliative care units unexpectedly improve with simple, compassionate care. Is this a mystery? Or does compassion directly affect human biology in ways we are only...