Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 April 2020
Major depression is a significant problem for people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its treatment remains difficult. A promising approach to treat depression is Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a relatively new therapeutic approach rooted in mindfulness based stress-reduction (MBSR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We conducted this study to examine the effectiveness of MBCT in reducing depression symptoms among people who have a TBI.
Twenty individuals diagnosed with major depression were recruited from a rehabilitation clinic and completed the 8-week MBCT intervention. Instruments used to measure depression symptoms included: BDI-II, PHQ-9, HADS, SF-36 (Mental Health subscale), and SCL-90 (Depression subscale). They were completed at baseline and post-intervention.
All instruments indicated a statistically significant reduction in depression symptoms post-intervention (p < .05). For example, the total mean score on the BDI-II decreased from 25.2 (9.8) at baseline to 18.2 (11.7) post-intervention (p=.001). Using a PHQ threshold of 10, the proportion of participants with a diagnosis of major depression was reduced by 59% at follow-up (p=.012).
Most participants reported reductions in depression symptoms after the intervention such that many would not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of major depression. This intervention may provide an opportunity to address a debilitating aspect of TBI and could be implemented concurrently with more traditional forms of treatment, possibly enhancing their success. The next step will involve the execution of multi-site, randomized controlled trials to fully demonstrate the value of the intervention.
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