27.01.2022 | Original Article
How do Mindfulness-Based Programs Improve Depression Symptoms: Selflessness, Valence, or Valenced Self?
verfasst von:
Ana L. Alejandre-Lara, Nicholas K. Canby, Kristen D. Wesbecher, Kristina Eichel, Willoughby B. Britton, Jared R. Lindahl
Erschienen in:
Cognitive Therapy and Research
|
Ausgabe 4/2022
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Abstract
The current study investigated purported mechanisms by which mindfulness-based programs (MBP) improve depression symptoms, specifically, whether mindfulness-related changes in the processing of self-referential and/or emotionally valenced information are associated with improvements in depression symptoms. Four domains of the Self-Reference Task (SRT)—valence bias, self-bias, negative self-bias and positive self-bias in memory recall—were assessed before and after an 8-week MBP in 95 individuals with mild-severe depression symptoms. Associations between pre-post intervention changes in SRT biases and improvements in mindfulness skill acquisition and depression symptoms were examined. Intervention-related changes in SRT biases were also examined as a function of treatment response. Mindfulness skill acquisition from baseline to week eight was significantly associated with decreased self-bias and decreased negative self-bias. Improvement in depression symptom severity from baseline to week 20 was significantly associated with pre-to-post intervention decreases in negative valence bias and increases in positive self bias, but not changes in self-bias or negative self bias. Changes in valence bias significantly interacted with treatment response, while self biases did not. These findings suggest that MBPs decrease depression symptoms through changes in valence and valenced self rather than a global reduction in self-referential processing.
Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT01831362