Introduction
Mindfulness may be described as a non- elaborative, accommodating, present-centered attentiveness in which each reflection, feeling, or awareness that arises in the attentional field is recognized and accepted as it is (Witkiewitz and Marlatt 2007; 74). Mindfulness is also the exercise or habit of cultivating mindfulness. It could also be described as a model comprising self-regulation of awareness of immediate occurrences thus allowing for better acknowledgment of psychological events in the current moment; and taking on a course of curiosity, candidness towards one’s experiences in each instance.
In a study conducted to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness, two randomized controlled clinical trials were carried out to support the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in averting depressive relapse. The two trials had sample sizes of 145 and 75 individuals respectively and were conducted in Toronto, Cambridge and Bangor for the first one while the latter was conducted in Cambridge, England (Witkiewitz and Marlatt 2007; 75).
Importance of the study
The study was centered on pin pointing the extent to which mindfulness can be incorporated in psychotherapy through personal experience of the therapist as well as the mindfulness training of the patient to achieve willingness or a perceived capacity that will enable the patient to effectively attend to present experience.
The methods used
In the studies mentioned above, individuals who had recovered from at least two instances of depression and were now symptom-free. The individuals were supposed to have been off medication for at least a period of three months prior to the study. Consequently, the individuals were randomized to be administered with either MBCT (Mindfulness-based cognitive Therapy) or to go on with treatment as usual (Witkiewitz and Marlatt 2007; 75). For the group in which MBCT was administered, there was an eight weekly individuals’ participation in addition to four follow-up sessions programmed at intervals of one month, two months, three and four months. Then the individuals in each of the groups were monitored for sixty weeks starting from the time of enrollment.
The outcomes measured
The principal outcome measure was to determine whether and when patients underwent relapse or reappearance described as meeting DSM-IIIR standard for a major depressive episode, in accordance with the assessment of the SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis) and administered in assessments twice a month all the way through the trial (Witkiewitz and Marlatt 2007;
The outcome from the first study showed a considerably different pattern of results. The results were put into two categories; for those with two previous episodes versus individuals who had three or more episodes. For the individuals who had only two previous instances (23% of the sample), there was no statistical difference in the relapse rates between the MBCT and the TAU (treatment as usual). However, the individuals with three or more previous episodes (who comprised 77% of the sample) revealed a statistically considerable difference in relapse rates for those who were administered with at least a minimum effective dose for MBCT ( about 37%) and TAU (about 66%). In addition, the relapse rates between MBCT and TAU showed persistent statistically significant difference when consideration was put to all the individuals who had been allocated to the MBCT condition.
The results therefore supported the efficacy of the MBCT in lessening depressive relapse though the design of the study did not create room for ruling out confounding explanations for the treatment benefits of nonspecific factors [e.g. group participation). The study also indirectly backs up the effects of MBCT as being in harmony with the fundamental theoretical justification of MBCT. Lastly, the MBCT was found to be more effective than TAU since it led to increased metacognitive awareness with regard to pessimistic thoughts and negative feelings (Witkiewitz and Marlatt 2007; 76).
Works Cited
Witkiewitz K., A., and Marlatt G. A., Therapist’s Guide to Evidence-Based Relapse Prevention: Academic Press – 2007: 74-76.