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Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Therapy01:25

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy, pioneered by Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, is a structured approach to addressing psychological distress by focusing on the influence of thoughts on emotions and behaviors. All cognitive therapies involve the basic assumption that human beings have control over their feelings, and that how individuals feel about something depends on how they think about it. Unlike psychoanalytic methods that delve into unconscious processes or humanistic approaches emphasizing...
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Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

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Cognitive therapy is a psychological approach designed to address distortions in thinking, which can lead to negative emotions and unrealistic beliefs. These cognitive distortions often influence how individuals interpret and respond to situations, exacerbating emotional distress. Below are some prevalent cognitive distortions, their characteristics, and examples of how they manifest in thought processes.
Arbitrary Inference
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Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

How does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy work?

Willem Kuyken1, Ed Watkins, Emily Holden

  • 1Mood Disorders Centre, University of Exeter, UK. w.kuyken@exeter.ac.uk

Behaviour Research and Therapy
|September 3, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) enhances mindfulness and self-compassion, improving treatment for recurrent depression. This therapy decouples cognitive reactivity from negative outcomes, offering a novel mechanism for sustained recovery.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an effective intervention for recurrent depression.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying MBCT's efficacy remain largely unexplored.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for optimizing treatment and preventing relapse.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether MBCT's therapeutic effects are mediated by increased mindfulness and self-compassion.
  • To examine if MBCT alters post-treatment cognitive reactivity and its relationship with depressive relapse.
  • To elucidate the change mechanisms of MBCT in patients with recurrent depression.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial compared MBCT with maintenance antidepressants (mADM) over 15 months.
  • Mindfulness and self-compassion were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
  • Cognitive reactivity was measured using a laboratory mood induction paradigm post-treatment.
  • 123 patients with a history of multiple depressive episodes were included.

Main Results:

  • MBCT's positive treatment effects were significantly mediated by enhancements in mindfulness and self-compassion.
  • A key finding was the decoupling of cognitive reactivity from depressive relapse in the MBCT group.
  • In contrast, heightened cognitive reactivity predicted worse outcomes for patients receiving mADM.

Conclusions:

  • MBCT's efficacy in recurrent depression is attributed to increased mindfulness and self-compassion.
  • MBCT alters the impact of cognitive reactivity on depressive relapse, mitigating its negative influence.
  • The cultivation of self-compassion appears central to this decoupling effect, promoting sustained recovery.