John Wiley & Sons : Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Affects Self-Criticism and Self-Assurance in Individuals with Depression

Findings from a recent study of individuals with depression suggest that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can improve how patients feel about themselves in difficult situations in ways that may help protect against relapse of depressive symptoms. The findings are published in Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.

For the study, 68 individuals were randomized the MBCT or a waiting list. Patients who received MBCT were more likely to experience reductions in feelings of self-inadequacy and improvements in self-reassurance. Also, individuals with improvements in self-reassurance were less likely to experience depressive relapse within 2 years after the MBCT intervention.

'Self-criticism makes people vulnerable to depression. This study shows that MBCT can influence how people relate to themselves, and that being supportive towards oneself protects against depressive relapse,' said corresponding author Elisabeth Schanche, PhD, of the University of Bergen, in Norway.

Additional Information

Link to Study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/capr.12381

About the Journal

Counselling and Psychotherapy Research (CPR) is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice.

CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice, and aims to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.

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