scholarly journals Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Peripheral Markers of Stress and Inflammation in Older-Adults With Depression and Anxiety: A Parallel Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Belliveau ◽  
Corina Nagy ◽  
Sophia Escobar ◽  
Naguib Mechawar ◽  
Gustavo Turecki ◽  
...  

Background: Depression and anxiety are prevalent in older-adults and often difficult to treat: up to 55% of patients are unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a promising treatment, however, its biological mechanisms remain unknown in older-adults.Methods: We examined if, in older-adults, decreased depression and anxiety symptoms after MBCT are associated with changes in the expression levels of C-reactive protein, Interleukin-1β, Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and mineralocorticoid receptor compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Older-adults (age ≥60) with depression and anxiety were randomized to MBCT or treatment as usual. Gene expression levels from blood samples were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n = 37) at baseline and after 8-weeks of MBCT or TAU.Results: As previously published, we found a significant reduction in symptoms of depression F (1, 35) = 10.68, p = 0.002, partial η2 = 0.23 and anxiety F (1, 35) = 9.36, p = 0.004, partial η2 = 0.21 in geriatric participants following MBCT compared to TAU. However, the expression levels of measured genes were not significantly different between groups and were not associated with changes in depression and anxiety symptoms.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the symptom reduction following MBCT in older-adults may not be accompanied by changes in the stress-response and inflammatory pathways. Future research should address other potential biological alterations associated to MBCT that may be responsible for the reduction of symptoms.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faeze Panahi ◽  
Mahbobeh Faramarzi

Objective. Little research has been done regarding the role of psychotherapy in the treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on the PMS symptoms and depression and anxiety symptoms in women with PMS. Design. In a randomized controlled trial, a total of 60 students at Mazandaran University with mild to moderate PMS who had depressive symptoms (Beck depression scores 16–47) were randomly allocated to either an experimental (n=30) or a control (n=30) group. The experimental group received MBCT in eight group sessions (120 min each) over 8 weeks. The control group received no intervention. All participants completed the Premenstrual Assessment Scale (PAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at the beginning and the end of the study. Repeated-measure ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Results. At the end of study, the experimental and control groups showed the following scores, respectively (mean ± SD): depression, 15.73±6.99 and 25.36±7.14; anxiety, 16.96±7.78 and 26.60±9.38; and total PAS, 42.86±8.02 and 58.93±8.47. MBCT improved depression and anxiety symptoms and total PAS score. Conclusion. MBCT intervention is acceptable and potentially beneficial in women with PMS symptoms. Psychotherapy should be considered as a treatment option for mild to moderate PMS in women with depressive symptoms.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089826432110150
Author(s):  
Janet M. Boekhout ◽  
Esmee Volders ◽  
Catherine A. W. Bolman ◽  
Renate H. M. de Groot ◽  
Lilian Lechner

Objectives: This study explores the effects of the Active Plus intervention aiming to decrease loneliness among older adults (>65 years) with chronic diseases. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was performed (N = 585; age: M = 74.5 years, SD = 6.4), assessing loneliness at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Outcome measures in the multilevel linear regression analyses were total, social and emotional loneliness. Results: At 12 months, significant decreases in total ( B = −.37, p = .01) and social loneliness ( B = −.24, p = .02) were found. Age was a significant moderator for total and social loneliness; however, the intervention was effective only for participants aged 80 years and older. Discussion: The Active Plus intervention showed a significant decrease in total and social loneliness and was especially beneficial for the vulnerable age group of 80 years and older. A more comprehensive tool for measuring social activity and mobility impairments, and using a longer time frame to detect loneliness changes, may form interesting future research.


BMJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
pp. h6127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilde P A van der Aa ◽  
Ger H M B van Rens ◽  
Hannie C Comijs ◽  
Tom H Margrain ◽  
Francisca Gallindo-Garre ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul French ◽  
Anthony P. Morrison ◽  
Lara Walford ◽  
Alice Knight ◽  
Richard P. Bentall

Early interventions for psychosis have recently received a great deal of interest. This is because research findings have indicated the importance of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in influencing future prognosis. Most interventions have so far centered around the early identification of first episode cases in an attempt to minimize the DUP. A further development of the early intervention strategy aims to identify high-risk cases prior to the onset of psychosis. Treatment of this at risk group could potentially prevent the onset of psychosis. In this paper we describe three cases from a randomized controlled trial designed to test the feasibility of a cognitive therapy intervention, to prevent the onset of psychosis. These are presented with formulations based on a recent cognitive model conceptualizing the onset of psychosis. Implications of this approach for future research and clinical practice are also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shufei Yin ◽  
Xinyi Zhu ◽  
Rui Li ◽  
Lijuan Huo ◽  
Weicong Ren ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMC) have a higher risk of dementia and commonly demonstrate symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study aimed to examine the effect of a memory training program for individuals with SMC, and whether memory training combined with group counseling aimed at alleviating depression and anxiety would boost memory training gains.Design: A three-armed, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.Setting and Participants: Community-dwelling older adults with SMC, aged ≥ 60 years.Methods: Participants (n = 124) were randomly assigned to memory training (MT), group counseling (GC), or GC+MT intervention. The GT+MT group received 4-hour group counseling followed by a 4-week memory training, while the MT group attended reading and memory training, and the GC group received group counseling and health lectures. Cognitive function and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed at baseline, mid-, and post-intervention. The GC+MT group and GC group had resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at mid- and post-intervention.Results: After group counseling, the GC+MT and GC groups showed reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, compared to the MT group. Memory training enhanced memory performance in both MT and GC+MT groups, but the GC+MT group demonstrated larger memory improvement (Cohen’s d = 0.96) than the MT group (Cohen’s d = 0.62). Amygdala-hippocampus connectivity was associated with improved mood and memory gains.Conclusion and Implications: Group counseling reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and memory training enhanced memory performance. Specifically, improved mood induced larger memory training effects. The results suggest that it may need to include treatment for depression and anxiety in memory intervention for older adults with SMC.Trial Registration: ChiCTR-IOR-15006165 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S45-S45
Author(s):  
Courtney J Bolstad ◽  
Anisha L Thomas ◽  
Michael R Nadorff

Abstract Symptoms of insomnia are associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults, yet less is known about the impact of specific forms of insomnia (i.e. onset, maintenance, and terminal insomnia). We explored how insomnia type predicted symptoms of anxiety and depression in older adults (n = 133; mean age 69, range 65-89). We hypothesized that onset and maintenance insomnia would have stronger relations to depression and anxiety than terminal insomnia. Regression analyses indicated that onset insomnia was the only significant predictor of anxiety symptoms, and maintenance was the only significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Thus, our findings suggest that despite overlap between depression and anxiety, insomnia may have different mechanisms of affecting each disorder. Implications for the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms by addressing insomnia problems will be discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S165-S165
Author(s):  
Courtney J Bolstad ◽  
Carolyn E Adams-Price ◽  
Michael R Nadorff

Abstract Pets can provide older adults a means of social support, which can combat problems faced in later life including loneliness, anxiety, and depression. However, current research findings in this area are mixed. The current study explored the differences in anxiety and depression between pet owners and non-pet owners and how pet ownership was associated with these symptoms after accounting for other established correlates. We hypothesized pet owners would endorse fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression than non-pet owners and owning a pet would be associated with these symptoms even after accounting for other common correlates. Participants included 608 older adults aged 70 to 95 that were included in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging. As hypothesized, results indicated that pet owners endorsed significantly fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression than non-pet owners. Hierarchical regressions indicated that owning a pet explained a significant amount of variance in anxiety symptoms even after controlling for depression, self-reported health, and demographics. However, owning a pet did not have a significant association with depressive symptoms after accounting for anxiety, self-reported health, and demographics. These results suggest that lower rates of anxiety and depression are related to owning a pet and that pet ownership is associated with fewer anxiety symptoms, but not depressive symptoms, independent of several established correlates of anxiety. Future research is needed to determine the specific mechanisms of pet ownership that comprise this relationship as well as whether pet ownership may longitudinally reduce or buffer against anxiety in late life.


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