Depression, Meditation, Research

Hello all, I have just come back to BOL to find this discussion which is dear to my heart. I am a physician and I went back to do a 3 year Master of Psychotherapy in the Psychiatry School at the University of New South Wales in Sydney in 1990,91,92. My theoretical and research thesis was "Treatment of depression, cognitive restructuring / cognitive disengagement?" The Cognitive Therapy and Attentional disengagement groups both improved significantly more than the waiting list group on DSM, BDI ,BAI, DAS criteria. The CBT group improved on measures assumed to measure cognitive restructuring but interestingly the Attentional training group improved significantly more than the controls and as much as the CT group in this measure [DAS]despite having no instruction in modifying dysfunctional thoughts ,believed to be, critical in the modification of depression. ..I conclude that if it is the case that depression is maintained , if not caused by, ruminations on selfdefeating interpretations then a further surmise is that the sine qua non for the effective psychological treatment of depression are those which equip the patient [deliberately or inadvertently] with the skills to disengage from the -ve loop and thereby break the vicious cycle. Attentional training shows such promise and prompts the question does CT rely on restructuring or attentional focusing. THe Meditation method was a counting mantra with breathing and the instruction to take the passive attitude with intrusive thoughts and refocus on the breathing and counting. IT was to be practiced 2x daily for 15-20 mins. and one minute mini meditations x6/day were also practiced. I hope this brief summary is useful and relevant. Regards Andrew

• An excellent study! by Jim Spira, 5/12/98