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      Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Improves Emotional Reactivity to Social Stress: Results from A Randomized Controlled Trial

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          Abstract

          Objectives

          The high likelihood of recurrences in depression is linked to progressive increase in emotional reactivity to stress (stress sensitization). Mindfulness-based therapies teach mindfulness skills designed to decrease emotional reactivity in the face of negative-affect producing stressors. The primary aim of the current study was to assess whether Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is efficacious in reducing emotional reactivity to social evaluative threat in a clinical sample with recurrent depression. A secondary aim was to assess whether improvement in emotional reactivity mediates improvements in depressive symptoms.

          Methods

          Fifty-two individuals with partially-remitted depression were randomized into an 8-week MBCT course or a waitlist control condition. All participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) before and after the 8-week trial period. Emotional reactivity to stress was assessed with the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory at several time points before, during and after the stressor.

          Results

          MBCT was associated with decreased emotional reactivity to social stress, specifically during the recovery (post-stressor) phase of the TSST. Waitlist controls showed an increase in anticipatory (pre-stressor) anxiety, which was absent in the MBCT group. Improvements in emotional reactivity partially mediated improvements in depressive symptoms.

          Limitations

          Limitations include small sample size, lack of objective or treatment adherence measures, and non-generalizability to more severely depressed populations.

          Conclusions

          Given that emotional reactivity to stress is an important psychopathological process underlying the chronic and recurrent nature of depression, these findings suggest that mindfulness skills are important in adaptive emotion regulation when coping with stress.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          1251640
          25721
          Behav Ther
          Behav Ther
          Behavior therapy
          0005-7894
          1878-1888
          10 October 2012
          01 October 2011
          June 2012
          01 June 2013
          : 43
          : 2
          : 365-380
          Affiliations
          [1 ]Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Providence RI
          [2 ]School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Israel
          [3 ]Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ
          Author notes
          Corresponding Author Information: Willoughby B. Britton, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, 185 Brown St Providence RI 02906, Willoughby_Britton@ 123456Brown.edu , phone: (520) 245-1855, fax: (401) 455-6235
          Article
          PMC3495556 PMC3495556 3495556 nihpa413265
          10.1016/j.beth.2011.08.006
          3495556
          22440072
          fbdb7808-741a-4b79-96c5-f12c02885d37
          © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
          History
          Categories
          Article

          Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy,meditation,depression,emotional reactivity,Trier Social Stress Test

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