Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Intervention to Treat Depression in Individuals With a Traumatic Brain Injury
Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Depression focused on measuring Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, MBCT, Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- traumatic brain injury suffered more than one year ago but less than five
- Evidence of depression post-traumatic brain injury (Beck Depression Inventory-II score of 16 or greater)
- Ability to speak and read English
- Age 18 or more
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to benefit from the intervention based a consensus process amongst study clinical psychologist and physicians, and from scores on memory and auditory attention (California Verbal Learning Test, Digit Span subsection of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale); verbal fluency and executive functioning (Controlled Oral Word Association Test); verbal abstract reasoning (Similarities subsection of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale); and executive functioning (Trail Making Test).
- Evidence of unusual psychological processes such as psychosis, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, or major concurrent mental illness (Beck Depression Inventory-II and Symptom Checklist-90-R will supplement the decision-making process of study clinicians).
Sites / Locations
- Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
- St. Joseph's Care Group
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
MBCT Intervention Group
MBCT Control Group
The curriculum of our mindfulness intervention draws upon elements from the mindfulness-based stress reduction program, and Segal and colleagues manual for mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. It was modified by one of the investigators to address issues associated with traumatic brain injury (e.g., problems with attention, concentration, memory, fatigue). The intervention was increased to ten weeks with one and a half hour weekly sessions, along with a 20-30 minute daily meditation home practice. Further adaptations included simplified language, the use of repetition to reinforce concepts, and visual aids. More attention was paid to fostering learning conditions to encourage an environment of trust and non-judgement. Connections between learning activities was also made more explicit.
Control group waited.