Mechanisms of Mindfulness-based Interventions

The state of mindfulness can be described as a form of meta-awareness in which attention is allocated to the present moment of external and internal sensory or mental experience, without reactivity, and without dwelling on any particular sensory or mental object with judgement or evaluation. Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBIs) are a family of standardized cognitive and behavioral therapies that focus on cultivating mindfulness-related skills for improving maladaptive cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes.

MBIs have been developed for a wide range of problems, disorders, and populations and are increasingly available in a variety of health settings. Empirically supported MBIs include acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002), and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn, 1982, 1990). Variations on these approaches, including integration of mindfulness training into individual psychotherapy from diverse perspectives, also have been described (Germer, Siegel, & Fulton, 2005). As the empirical evidence for the efficacy of these interventions continues to grow, the importance of investigating the mechanisms or processes by which they lead to beneficial outcomes is increasingly recognized. This mixed methods study proposes to investigate proposed neurobiological, physiological, psycho-social-behavioral, and cognitive mechanisms by which MBIs may improve health outcomes. Target (mechanism) engagement is expected to facilitate identification of individuals who are most likely to benefit (or not) from MBIs and further develop targeted interventions for optimization of delivery. Although there are very specific aims and hypotheses to be tested, this preliminary exploratory investigation will provide feasibility data and allow for refining existing hypotheses for larger research proposals to be submitted for extramural grant support.

Across all ARMS:

• At prescreen, must be currently registered for MBCT or MBSR; at posttest, must have attended five of eight sessions for "completion".
• Must possess English language skills sufficient for providing informed consent, completing questionnaires, and understanding instructions
• Age range: 18-55
• Right-handed
• If currently taking maintenance anti-depressant and/or anti-anxiety medication, must have a "stable" regimen as indexed by no medication or dosage changes within the past three months
• No prior diagnosis of bipolar I, bipolar II, psychotic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, and/or narcissistic personality disorder
• No current history (< 6 months) of substance abuse/dependence
• No current history (< 6 months) of regular meditation practice (>1 session/week; >10 min/session)
• No history of medical illness associated with possible changes in cerebral tissue or cerebrovasculature or with neurologic abnormality (e.g., seizure disorder, cerebrovascular or neoplastic lesion, neurodegenerative disorder, or significant head trauma, defined by loss of consciousness of ≥ 5 minutes)
• No current suicidal ideation

Eligibility for Depression & Anxiety Cohort:

Depression

• Reports having been diagnosed with non-psychotic unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD)
• ≥3 previous episodes of MDD
• Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score between 14 and 28 (an indicator of depressive symptoms of mild to moderate severity)
• No fMRI contraindications: pregnancy, claustrophobia, or presence of a ferromagnetic object, including orthodontic braces

Anxiety:

• Reports having been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (i.e., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobia)
• Score of ≥40 on the Trait subscale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (an indicator of anxious symptoms of moderate to high severity)

Eligibility for High Stress Cohort:

• Reports of High Stress as measured by perceived Stress Scale

Eligibility for Drawing Blood:

• At least 110 pounds
• Not pregnant
• Generally healthy by self-report (i.e., free of cold and flu symptoms on the day of collection, no infections within two weeks prior to collection, no symptoms of a heart condition within six months prior to collection, no known sickle cell disease)
• Including the study draw, blood donation for clinical or research purposes within the preceding eight weeks will not exceed 550 mL
• No more than one blood draw will have occurred during the preceding week