Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Experience over time
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: The experience of practice and impact over time\n
IRAS ID
140288
Contact name
Nancy Pistrang
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCLH Joint Research Office
Research summary
Mindfulness−Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a psychological intervention which combines mindfulness meditation with principles of cognitive therapy. It is delivered in the NHS as a standardized eight-week group course and is recommended in clinical guidelines for recurring depression. Recent research indicates that MBCT can also be used effectively to treat other mental health difficulties such as anxiety disorders. The proposed qualitative study will expand on current research, by exploring how patients find the experience and impact of practicing MBCT over time. \n\nThe research will recruit 12 individuals (minimum age 18) with a history of mild-moderate depression and/or anxiety difficulties who have attended an MBCT course at two primary care psychology outpatient services in London.\nInclusion criteria are: minimum 18 years of age, attended a minimum of six sessions of the MBCT course, able to understand written and spoken English well enough to participate in interviews, judged psychologically well enough to participate by their MBCT tutor. Exclusion criteria are: severe psychiatric difficulties including suicidality, substance and/or alcohol abuse. \n\nFour semi-structured interviews will be conducted with each participant over a period of 12 months. The interviews will focus on the experience and impact of practicing MBCT, what is considered helpful/unhelpful about the intervention and what can facilitate or act as barriers to continued practice. Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts will be analysed using Thematic Analysis in order to generate rich themes that relate to the research questions. The study will be guided by established quality criteria for qualitative research.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/0040
Date of REC Opinion
10 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion