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Meditation for Depression (CMIT)

Primary Purpose

Depression

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy
Sponsored by
University of California, San Francisco
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Depression focused on measuring Depression, Guided Imagery, Psychotherapy, Meditation

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meeting the DSM-IV criteria for unipolar major depressive disorder, as assessed by the Mini-Neuropsychiatric International Interview (MINI).
  • HAM-D17 rating scale ≥ 14.
  • Prior treatment with antidepressant medication during the present major depressive episode
  • Adequate written and oral fluency in English to understand and complete study forms and converse with study personnel.
  • Willingness on part of both subject and treating clinician to not change antidepressant treatment, including medications, psychotherapy or other treatments, over the course of the study, unless necessary to provide for well being of subject.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder including psychotic depression, dysthymia, mania or bipolar disorder, attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, alcohol or drug dependence, mental retardation, any pervasive developmental disorder or cognitive disorder (according to DSM-IV) criteria. Those with lifetime history of psychiatric conditions other than unipolar major depression will be also excluded.
  • Medically unstable, delirious, or terminally ill (e.g. medical illness requiring hospitalization or intense outpatient management, such as heart disease; heart attack in the past 6 months; congestive heart failure; severe heart arrythmias; unstable hypertension; poorly controlled diabetes; or pending surgery).
  • Past history of skull fracture; cranial surgery entering the calvarium; space occupying intracranial lesion; stroke/ aneurysm; Parkinson's or Huntington's disease; or Multiple Sclerosis.
  • Participants regularly practicing (≥ 2 times per week) any of the techniques utilized in the study to reduce stress: meditation, guided imagery, yoga.
  • Current treatment with behavior therapy or psychotherapy.
  • Active suicidal plan as measured by HAM-D item 3 score of greater than or equal to 3, or history of suicide attempt during the current episode.
  • Utilization of cannabis or other illicit drugs more than once a month.
  • Excessive use of alcohol, i.e., men whose alcohol consumption exceeds 14 standard drinks per week or 4 drinks per day, and women whose alcohol consumption exceeds 7 standard drinks per week or 3 drinks per day.
  • Needing to adjust or change anti-depressant treatment, including medications, psychotherapy, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), or Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS).

Sites / Locations

  • UCLA Semel Institute

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm Type

Experimental

Arm Label

Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy

Arm Description

Intervention involved Central Meditation, may be characterized by a voluntary, regulated attentional set towards a specific stimulus or set of stimuli and visualization exercises utilized within CMIT, which primarily involves two types of thought experiments: 1) creating mental models of how a person fits into the larger world and universe according to evolutionary biology and modern cosmology, in order to gain a larger perspective on emotions and thought patterns, and 2) backcasting, the generation of a desirable future coupled with mental time travel back to the present to determine how to create that future with present-day actions.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D)
Primary outcome is change in HAM-D from baseline to Week 12.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms- Self Report (QIDS- SR)

Full Information

First Posted
August 20, 2012
Last Updated
January 11, 2021
Sponsor
University of California, San Francisco
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT01671436
Brief Title
Meditation for Depression
Acronym
CMIT
Official Title
Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy for Depression
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
January 2021
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
September 2012 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
November 2013 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
March 2014 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
University of California, San Francisco

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a serious, costly and highly prevalent condition. However, currently available treatment options have limited efficacy. The aim of this pilot study is to determine whether patients suffering from MDD who have not responded to at least one antidepressant trial may actively engage in a novel group therapy, Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy (CMIT). Preliminary results with individual patients suggest that CMIT techniques may have benefit for major depression. The purpose of this trial is to assess the feasibility of a group form of CMIT for the treatment of major depression. The trial will also seek to identify neurophysiological and cardiovascular predictors of treatment response. In this study, 10 subjects with major depressive disorder will receive antidepressant treatment augmentation with group meditation and mental imagery therapy for a total of 12 weeks, as well as daily meditation practice. Group sessions will also involve gentle yogic stretches. The subjects will be limited to those who remain depressed despite at least one trial of antidepressant medication. Changes in brain activity and heart rate variability will be measured at three time points utilizing electroencephalography (EEG) and pulse monitors. Depression symptoms will be measured at several time points using questionnaires and objective measures. Participation will require a total of 15 visits for weekly therapy and the measurements. Two-month follow-up questionnaires will be mailed to the subjects after study end to assess durability of any improvements in depressive symptoms.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Depression
Keywords
Depression, Guided Imagery, Psychotherapy, Meditation

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Single Group Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
N/A
Enrollment
13 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Intervention involved Central Meditation, may be characterized by a voluntary, regulated attentional set towards a specific stimulus or set of stimuli and visualization exercises utilized within CMIT, which primarily involves two types of thought experiments: 1) creating mental models of how a person fits into the larger world and universe according to evolutionary biology and modern cosmology, in order to gain a larger perspective on emotions and thought patterns, and 2) backcasting, the generation of a desirable future coupled with mental time travel back to the present to determine how to create that future with present-day actions.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Central Meditation and Imagery Therapy
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D)
Description
Primary outcome is change in HAM-D from baseline to Week 12.
Time Frame
Measured 4 times over 12 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms- Self Report (QIDS- SR)
Time Frame
Weekly assessments measured over 12 weeks, and 2 month follow-up

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
65 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Meeting the DSM-IV criteria for unipolar major depressive disorder, as assessed by the Mini-Neuropsychiatric International Interview (MINI). HAM-D17 rating scale ≥ 14. Prior treatment with antidepressant medication during the present major depressive episode Adequate written and oral fluency in English to understand and complete study forms and converse with study personnel. Willingness on part of both subject and treating clinician to not change antidepressant treatment, including medications, psychotherapy or other treatments, over the course of the study, unless necessary to provide for well being of subject. Exclusion Criteria: Current diagnosis of schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder including psychotic depression, dysthymia, mania or bipolar disorder, attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, alcohol or drug dependence, mental retardation, any pervasive developmental disorder or cognitive disorder (according to DSM-IV) criteria. Those with lifetime history of psychiatric conditions other than unipolar major depression will be also excluded. Medically unstable, delirious, or terminally ill (e.g. medical illness requiring hospitalization or intense outpatient management, such as heart disease; heart attack in the past 6 months; congestive heart failure; severe heart arrythmias; unstable hypertension; poorly controlled diabetes; or pending surgery). Past history of skull fracture; cranial surgery entering the calvarium; space occupying intracranial lesion; stroke/ aneurysm; Parkinson's or Huntington's disease; or Multiple Sclerosis. Participants regularly practicing (≥ 2 times per week) any of the techniques utilized in the study to reduce stress: meditation, guided imagery, yoga. Current treatment with behavior therapy or psychotherapy. Active suicidal plan as measured by HAM-D item 3 score of greater than or equal to 3, or history of suicide attempt during the current episode. Utilization of cannabis or other illicit drugs more than once a month. Excessive use of alcohol, i.e., men whose alcohol consumption exceeds 14 standard drinks per week or 4 drinks per day, and women whose alcohol consumption exceeds 7 standard drinks per week or 3 drinks per day. Needing to adjust or change anti-depressant treatment, including medications, psychotherapy, repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), or Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS).
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Felipe Jain, M.D.
Organizational Affiliation
University of California, Los Angeles
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
UCLA Semel Institute
City
Los Angeles
State/Province
California
ZIP/Postal Code
90024
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

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Meditation for Depression

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