Mindfulness-based interventions in individuals with current depressive episodes. One can observe that a substantial amount of research on mindfulness-based interventions to depression has been conducted on individuals with past episodes of depression as opposed to those currently suffering from depression. Hence, it is important to include in this discussion the efficacy of mindfulness-based techniques on individuals experiencing depression currently. Strauss, Cavanagh, Oliver, and Pettman (2014) investigated if mindfulness-based interventions are useful in reducing risk of depressive relapse for individuals who are suffering from a current episode of depression. This study was conducted using a meta-analysis of studies that used randomized control trials of individuals with current diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depression. Strauss et al. also assessed primary diagnosis, type of intervention used, and condition of control. In total, 12 studies were analyzed with overall 578 subjects. The results of this study demonstrated that mindfulness-based intervention played a role in modulating severity of symptoms for individuals experiencing current state of depression (Strauss et al., 2014). However, a limitation to this study is that only 12 studies were used, which limits generalizability.
Van Aalderen et al. (2012) also investigated the effects of using MBCT in addition to one’s treatment as usual for participants currently experiencing or absent a current episode of depression. Van Aalderen et al. used a randomized control trial that compared 102 individuals who received MBCT in addition to their treatment as usual versus 103 individuals who received solely treatment as usual for depression. The study was comprised of individuals who had experienced three or more episodes of depression. Levels of depression after exposure to these conditions were measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Beck Depression Inventory, and assessments pertaining to mindfulness, worry, or rumination. Van Aalderen et al. concluded that participants in the MBCT and treatment as usual group reported lesser amounts of symptoms of depression, ruminative thought processes, and worry. The individuals within this group also reported experiencing increased levels of mindfulness skills as compared to those who received merely treatment as usual. Van Aalderen et al. also found that reduction in depressive symptoms was mediated by reduction in ruminative thought processes and worry experienced by individuals in their exposure to mindfulness training. As well, Van Aalderen et al. stated that there was similar effectiveness in using MBCT on individuals currently depressed as those who are in remission from depression. Van Aalderen et al. also stated that a limitation to their study is that there must be more research undertaken about how MBCT affects an individual in order to corroborate their findings.
Kenny and Williams (2007) also examined the effectiveness of using MBCT as a treatment method for individuals with depression. Kenny and Williams stated that their study sought to determine if MBCT is effective at assisting individuals in a current state of depression who are not receptive to standard treatment methods for depression. Overall, the results of this study demonstrated that MBCT was effective at reducing depressive symptoms for these individuals, and a large portion of these individuals returned to a more functional level of mood after undergoing MBCT. A criticism of this study is that Kenny and Williams described this uplift in mood symptoms as the person returning to “normal” or “close to normal” levels in their mood symptoms. This can be analyzed as being a highly subjective definition which can vary depending on the individual. Hence, the results of this study may be limited in generalizability.
Finucane and Mercer (2006) also noted that previous studies pertaining to MBCT applications to depression treatment have focused on mindfulness as a protective factor to relapse in individuals who are not currently depressed. Hence, Finucane and Mercer sought to determine MBCT’s effectiveness at alleviating symptoms of depression for those experiencing active depressive symptoms. This study contained 13 individuals who had experienced recurrent bouts of depression in the past and who were actively depressed at the time of the study. Qualitative, semistructured interviews were utilized in addition to quantitative analyses 3 months postcompletion of the MBCT learning program. Beck anxiety and depression inventories were administered to these subjects prior to partaking in the MBCT program and 3 months after experiencing this mindfulness-based intervention. The results of this study demonstrated that mindfulness training was beneficial for individuals who engaged in the program. Many of the individuals who participated in the study felt that being in a group context normalized their experience of depression. However, individuals who participated in this study also criticized the MBCT course for being too short. Individuals who criticized the MBCT program also stated that there should have been a follow-up component after the program completion. Positively, over half of the individuals in the study continued to apply mindfulness techniques for 3 months after the course ended. As well, the results indicated that only a minority of the individuals who engaged in the study experienced significant levels of mental health distress, primarily anxiety based, at the 3-month point after completion of the study (Finucane & Mercer, 2006). Hence, overall this study demonstrated that mindfulness can be an effective treatment of depression for individuals experiencing active symptoms. A criticism of this study is that only 13 individuals were used, which limits generalizability. Also, qualitative interviews were used which can have a more subjective quality to them in that the experiences of these particular subjects may not be the experience of other individuals. The subjectivity of these interviews can therefore limit generalizability of the study.
