Comments on: Is Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Effective?

By: drjorn

drjorn — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:00:20 +0000

Interesting article. I just finished listening to some mp3 from Oxford University’s Dr. Mark Williams. It appears to me that some rather bold claims are being made as to the efficacy of MBCT. He uses terms like entanglement as though what he is describing is something new. It is not. He is merely describing what REBT and CBT well understands to be the nature of the tautological, obsessive nature of irrational thinking. He notes that when the mind tries to “problem-solve” negative emotions it becomes “entangled.” Actually no problem-solving is going on, just irrational thinking. MBCT practiced regularly helps reduce relapse. How is this earth shattering I fail to see, since any regular practice of challenging irrationalities and rational awareness/thinking will do the same thing. In other words it appears to me that MBCT has not discovered anything earth shattering. I suspect the MBCT functions something like systematic desensitization. I would be interested in seeing studies comparing the two.

By: william smith

william smith — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:24:53 +0000

Yoga is a way of life, a conscious act, not a set or series of learning principles. The dexterity, grace, and poise you cultivate, as a matter of course, is the natural outcome of regular practice. You require no major effort. In fact trying hard will turn your practices into a humdrum, painful, even injurious routine and will eventually slow down your progress. Subsequently, and interestingly, the therapeutic effect of Yoga is the direct result of involving the mind totally in inspiring (breathing) the body to awaken. Yoga is probably the only form of physical activity that massages each and every one of the body’s glands and organs. This includes the prostate, a gland that seldom, if ever, gets externally stimulated in one’s whole life.

By: rash-t

rash-t — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:51:43 +0000

“So the answer of its effectiveness remains elusive, but people will continue to pursue MBCT regardless”

It amazes me that a therapy can be so much talk about without a single evidence that it works! Are we that desperate? Yea, we certainly are.

By: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques | My Blog

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Techniques | My Blog — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:10:24 +0000

[...] is mindfulness-based cognitive therapy effective? [...]

By: Private

Private — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:41:36 +0000

CBT is a must for DID – excellent results.
CBT will bring about mindfulness because one must address and bring new perspective on whatever work is being done, one thing at a time, in CBT. To be mindful is to be in this moment – I am safe, there is nothing to fear, I can just “be”.

Mr. Moderator, please allow me into chat. I learned so much about my condition and I am a loner.

By: John

John — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:14:11 +0000

I have been practicing meditation for 2 years now. It took me good 7 month with weekly session to finally experience that ‘feeling’ by letting go and only recently fully understand how to ‘let go’ when I wish to, to get that feeling intensely. I am now starting yo have good command of both types of mediation techniques.

I saw a preogramme on MCBT on tv and they described how mindfulness is tought during 8 weeks course. While I dont doubt that MCBT works, I can not belive that anyone is able to learn Mindfulness technique in such a short time frame!!
It’s just not possible.

Even a regular Zen monk in Japan has to train 24/7 for 5 to 6 years to fully ‘get it’. (But not the ‘final bit’ if you know what I mean).

Or is Minffulness not the same as meditation?

By: P.A.

P.A. — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:10:51 +0000

I think it is wonderfull that cognitive therapists have embraced mindfulness – but the fit was in no way “natural”, as some like to present it as. There is no fit. What has happened is that cognitive therapy has made a substantial move away from it’s original premises – and it was about time. Mindfulness is also easily integrated with other types of therapy, and important work has allready been done in this regard (Mark Epstein). What remains to be seen is if the therapists and researchers (in particular) now can acquire a respectfull and thoughtfull “mode” of thinking and speaking about different approaches, or – as in the past – they will continue their rather primitive devaluation of those they dont like.

By: Michael Ballard

Michael Ballard — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:43:56 +0000

I have found in teaching or coaching mindfulness that those committed to practice can have some very positive impact on their lives.

I.e. The person with severe headaches. Already under medical treatment of pain meds.
I convinced this person to get a complete top to bottom – from to back medical check up. Three eye glass perscriptions later, a change in lighting at work, walking for 20 minutes a day that included 7 minutes of meditaive / mindfulness walking, 6 – 12 sessions per week of relaxation response via a commercially sold program, cut coffee consumption to 1 8ox cupa day. I told her we are into excellence not perfection… :0 and she is now at 25 days and headache free and quite surprised with her self.

I’m a ex cancer patient who is very pleased at how open some are to trying safe interventions in their life when all else fails. Mindfulness is not a cure all…. but having volunteered helping many many acutely ill and chronically ill.. and typically they have NO mental health budget…. having them learn this skill… many told me it helped them regain a sense of control over their mind and their lives.

By: M Coffey

M Coffey — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:40:12 +0000

You write “Does any of this [MBCT therapy] work? Well, according to new research, yes.” Then you cite a limited number of studies showing vague, secondary and limited benefits, but – and here’s the point – whose “findings cannot be attributed to MBCT-specific effects.” You follow this with word-play intended to confuse the fact that the research you cite doesn’t support the effectiveness of MBCT. By your own report, MBCT has been around for 30 years; it should be a mature technique, there should be no excuses for a lack of objective support. Yet you end with a euphemistic “So the answer of its effectiveness remains elusive,” followed by the alarming phrase “but people will continue to pursue MBCT regardless.” Together with the snake-oil responses from therapists, all this suggests that any effectiveness of MBCT my well be limited to the mind of the therapist.

By: » Depression: Medicate, Meditate or both? - Mindfulness and Psychotherapy

» Depression: Medicate, Meditate or both? - Mindfulness and Psychotherapy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:36:04 +0000

[...] Is Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Effective? [...]

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:53:04 +0000

My above post was in response to Alexandra. For some reason it didn’t print- “really? I thought that mindfulness was about awareness in a way that WAS NOT focused towards change. Acceptance for the sake of change isn’t really acceptance, you see.”

By: Cindy

Cindy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:50:08 +0000

> mindfulness really looks at how a person thinks — the process of thinking — to help one be more effective in changing negative thoughts.

<> Isn’t this where nonjudgmentalness comes in tho? You don’t judge your thoughts/feelings, you accept them as they are. Therein lies the acceptance. “Acceptance is the only way out of pain”. It’s the first step The change occurs when you learn to turn your mind toward a healthier way of thinking by using the other DBT skills. I think that’s where some people who seek out Mindfulness meditation on their own can get “stuck”, if they are not healthy. Or, as we sit with our thoughts/feelings, watching them come, and go, they eventually dissipate, that too is change, yet you are still accepting yourself in that moment. I hope I’m on the right track here

By: Donald F

Donald F — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:41:14 +0000

Hi John,
I wonder if you could please delete my comment?

Since I posted a comment on June 3, your site is coming up when people search for me, not my site.

Your article is interesting, of course, keep on writing, and I’ll learn how to post comments that don’t detract from my own site!

Donald

By: Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:32:41 +0000

As a Psychologist and Mindfulness Teacher I have to recognize my bias here. I have been integrating mindfulness into psychotherapy in my West Los Angeles practice for quite some time now. The reason it is catching on so well is simply because part of what we try and cultivate in therapy is awareness and that is exactly what is cultivated in mindfulness-based approaches.

CBT can be seen as a really good fit because it draws almost the same circle as vipassana approaches of creating awareness of thoughts, feelings, and emotions and the interaction of them. CBT explicitly adds the behavioral piece. However, this can also support and enhance other therapies as well.

I have found using mindfulness-based approaches not only effective for most in relieving stress, anxiety, and depression, but also in opening people up to the kindness and compassion that they inherently have for themselves and others.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

By: Donald Fleck DCSW

Donald Fleck DCSW — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:12:16 +0000

The thing about the research….. a recent article in the New York Times also quibbled about the quality of the reseach. It compared MBCT treatment versus TAU (treatment as normal). So, the treatment was found effective for 60% of those who took it, given that they had chronic depression (not depression specifically from a life event).

I teach MBCT in New York City. It has worked pretty well in my classes. Outside that, I work with psychodynamic therapy and cognitive therapies. What’s really important is that almost no research has found psychodynamic therapy effective, yet it is the ‘normal’ psychotherapeutic approach. I use it because it works, it is just hard to define the method as it is so general.

So…. MBCT hasn’t got ‘definitive’ research, but neither have many other treatments. Interestingly, it is about as effective as antidepressants, but without their relapse rate.

Some details on MBCT are on my web site, DonaldFleck.com. I’m based in NYC, USA.

Am interested in comments and questions, of course!

Donald Fleck DCSW