TY - JOUR
T1 - Changes in depression and anxiety through mindfulness group therapy in Japan
T2 - The role of mindfulness and self-compassion as possible mediators
AU - Takahashi, Toru
AU - Sugiyama, Fukiko
AU - Kikai, Tomoki
AU - Kawashima, Issaku
AU - Guan, Siqing
AU - Oguchi, Mana
AU - Uchida, Taro
AU - Kumano, Hiroaki
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by Ibuka funding and JSPS KAKENHI, Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows, 17 J10680.
Funding Information:
This research was supported in part by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology. We would like to thank Enago (www.enago.jp) for the English language review.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s).
PY - 2019/2/18
Y1 - 2019/2/18
N2 - Background: Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly being implemented worldwide for problems with depression and anxiety, and they have shown evidence of efficacy. However, few studies have examined the effects of a mindfulness-based group therapy based on standard programs for depression and anxiety until follow-up in Japan. This study addresses that gap. Furthermore, this study explored the mechanisms of action, focusing on mindfulness, mind wandering, self-compassion, and the behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systems (BIS/BAS) as possible mediators. Methods: We examined 16 people who suffered from depression and/or anxiety in an 8-week mindfulness group therapy. Measurements were conducted using questionnaires on depression and trait-anxiety (outcome variables), mindfulness, mind wandering, self-compassion, and the BIS/BAS (process variables) at pre- and post-intervention and 2-month follow-up. Changes in the outcome and process variables were tested, and the correlations among the changes in those variables were explored. Results: Depression and anxiety decreased significantly, with moderate to large effect sizes, from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. In process variables, the observing and nonreactivity facets of mindfulness significantly increased from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. The nonjudging facet of mindfulness and self-compassion significantly increased from pre-intervention to follow-up. Other facets of mindfulness, mind wandering, and the BIS/BAS did not significantly change. Improvements in some facets of mindfulness and self-compassion and reductions in BIS were significantly correlated with decreases in depression and anxiety. Conclusions: An 8-week mindfulness group therapy program may be effective for people suffering from depression and anxiety in Japan. Mindfulness and self-compassion may be important mediators of the effects of the mindfulness group therapy. Future studies should confirm these findings by using a control group. Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN CTR) UMIN000022966. Registered July 1, 2016, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr-view.cgi?recptno=R000026425
AB - Background: Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly being implemented worldwide for problems with depression and anxiety, and they have shown evidence of efficacy. However, few studies have examined the effects of a mindfulness-based group therapy based on standard programs for depression and anxiety until follow-up in Japan. This study addresses that gap. Furthermore, this study explored the mechanisms of action, focusing on mindfulness, mind wandering, self-compassion, and the behavioral inhibition and behavioral activation systems (BIS/BAS) as possible mediators. Methods: We examined 16 people who suffered from depression and/or anxiety in an 8-week mindfulness group therapy. Measurements were conducted using questionnaires on depression and trait-anxiety (outcome variables), mindfulness, mind wandering, self-compassion, and the BIS/BAS (process variables) at pre- and post-intervention and 2-month follow-up. Changes in the outcome and process variables were tested, and the correlations among the changes in those variables were explored. Results: Depression and anxiety decreased significantly, with moderate to large effect sizes, from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. In process variables, the observing and nonreactivity facets of mindfulness significantly increased from pre- to post-intervention and follow-up. The nonjudging facet of mindfulness and self-compassion significantly increased from pre-intervention to follow-up. Other facets of mindfulness, mind wandering, and the BIS/BAS did not significantly change. Improvements in some facets of mindfulness and self-compassion and reductions in BIS were significantly correlated with decreases in depression and anxiety. Conclusions: An 8-week mindfulness group therapy program may be effective for people suffering from depression and anxiety in Japan. Mindfulness and self-compassion may be important mediators of the effects of the mindfulness group therapy. Future studies should confirm these findings by using a control group. Trial registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN CTR) UMIN000022966. Registered July 1, 2016, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr-view.cgi?recptno=R000026425
KW - Anxiety
KW - BIS/BAS
KW - Depression
KW - Mind wandering
KW - Mindfulness
KW - Self-compassion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061649364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061649364&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s13030-019-0145-4
DO - 10.1186/s13030-019-0145-4
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85061649364
SN - 1751-0759
VL - 13
JO - BioPsychoSocial Medicine
JF - BioPsychoSocial Medicine
IS - 1
M1 - 4
ER -