Mindfulness and Affect During Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Recurrent Depression: an Autoregressive Latent Trajectory Analysis

Mindfulness, vol. 11, pp. 2360–2370

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Gaining knowledge of dynamic processes of mechanisms underlying mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for recurrent depression could help to improve treatment efficacy. The current study examined the overall course and week-to-week associations of mindfulness and positive/negative affect during MBCT for recurrent depression. Methods Using data from the MOMENT study, 235 patients with recurrent depression in (partial) remission allocated to MBCT were included. Prior to each MBCT session, self-reports were obtained on mindfulness, positive affect, and negative affect. Results Autoregressive latent trajectory (ALT) modeling revealed that, across the MBCT course, larger increases in mindfulness were associated with larger increases in positive affect (r = .80, p < .050). Higher general levels of negative affect were associated with smaller increases in mindfulness over time (r = −.26, p < .001). Week-to-week effects showed no reciprocal cross-lagged effects between mindfulness and positive affect or negative affect, except for positive affect at session 2 which was positively associated with mindfulness at session 3 (r = .11, p < .050). Conclusions The current study supports a positive association in strength of increase between mindfulness and positive affect, while higher general levels of negative affect might be associated with smaller increases of mindfulness during MBCT for recurrent depression. For future research, experience sampling methods (ESMs) are recommended to capture dynamics on a smaller time scale. ALT modeling techniques are advised to be better able to interpret the processes of stability and change during MBCT for recurrent depression.

Authors 6

1. Marleen J. ter Avest corresponding

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center · Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Mindfulness, Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

2. Corina U. Greven

   Radboud University Medical Center · Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Karakter, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

3. Marloes J. Huijbers

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Mindfulness, Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

4. Tom F. Wilderjans Aachen Methodology and Statistics Research Unit Institute of Psychology Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences

   Leiden University · KU Leuven

   Affiliation as printed

   Methodology and Statistics Research Unit, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Research Group of Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

5. Anne E. M. Speckens

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center · Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour

   Affiliation as printed

   Center for Mindfulness, Department of Psychiatry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

6. Philip Spinhoven Aachen Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center Institute of Psychology Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, Pieter de la Court Building, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands