Efficacy and moderators of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data.

BACKGROUND: Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy (STPP) is frequently used to treat depression, but it is unclear which patients might benefit specifically. Individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses can provide more precise effect estimates than conventional meta-analyses and identify patient-level moderators. This IPD meta-analysis examined the efficacy and moderators of STPP for depression compared to control conditions. METHODS: PubMed, PsycInfo, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched September 1st, 2022, to identify randomized trials comparing STPP to control conditions for adults with depression. IPD were requested and analyzed using mixed-effects models. RESULTS: IPD were obtained from 11 of the 13 (84.6%) studies identified (n = 771/837, 92.1%; mean age = 40.8, SD = 13.3; 79.3% female). STPP resulted in significantly lower depressive symptom levels than control conditions at post-treatment (d = -0.62, 95%CI [-0.76, -0.47], p < .001). At post-treatment, STPP was more efficacious for participants with longer rather than shorter current depressive episode durations. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the evidence base of STPP for depression and indicate episode duration as an effect modifier. This moderator finding, however, is observational and requires prospective validation in future large-scale trials.

Effect of a mindfulness programme training on mental toughness and psychological well-being of female athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Research has shown that mindfulness in athletes is associated with positive outcomes. We therefore assessed the effect of mindfulness training on increasing mental toughness (MT) and psychological well-being (PWB). METHODS: This was a parallel-group, pre-and post-test, randomised controlled pilot trial. Forty-five female athletes from Iranian universities in Tehran were randomly assigned into experimental (n = 23) and control groups (n = 22). Forty-two completed the trial. The mindfulness training group received the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment programme for 7 weeks. All subjects completed the Mindfulness Inventory for Sport (MIS), Sports Mental Toughness Questionnaire and PWB Scale. Data were analysed using mixed analysis of variance. RESULTS: Mindfulness training increased mindfulness in the experimental group (p < 0.01). In turn, increased mindfulness led to increased MT and PWB at 2-month follow-up (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Given that mindfulness training may increase the MT and PWB of athletes, these techniques should be considered for inclusion in sports coaching.

The mediating role of gratitude in the relationship between attachment styles and psychological well-being.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mediating role of gratitude in the relationship between attachment styles and psychological well-being in students. METHOD: We selected 200 students using randomised cluster sampling in the academic year 2016-2017. They completed the attachment style, psychological well-being and gratitude questionnaires. RESULTS: On path analysis, secure attachment style had a positive relationship with both gratitude and psychological well-being. Conversely, anxiety-avoidance styles had a negative relationship with both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Gratitude plays a mediating role attachment and psychological well-being. These results may have implications for the development of interventions to improve mental well-being with a focus on enhancing gratitude.

Effects of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy on social cognition in major depression.

Background: Social cognition is commonly affected in psychiatric disorders and is a determinant of quality of life. However, there are few studies of treatment.Objective: To investigate the efficacy of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy on social cognition in major depression.Method: This study used a parallel group randomized control design to compare pre-test and post-test social cognition scores between depressed participants receiving ISTDP and those allocated to a wait-list control group. Participants were adults (19-40 years of age) who were diagnosed with depression. We recruited 32 individuals, with 16 participants allocated to the ISTDP and control groups, respectively. Both groups were similar in terms of age, sex and educational level.Results: Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) demonstrated that the intervention was effective in terms of the total score of social cognition: the experimental group had a significant increase in the post-test compared to the control group. In addition, the experimental group showed a significant reduction in the negative subjective score compared to the control group as well as an improvement in response to positive neutral and negative states.Conclusion: Depressed patients receiving ISTDP show a significant improvement in social cognition post treatment compared to a wait-list control group.

Effect of a mindfulness programme training to prevent the sport injury and improve the performance of semi-professional soccer players.

OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness improves psychological outcomes. We examined whether greater mindfulness scores were associated with reduced injury rates in soccer players, as well as improved performance at both the individual and team level. METHOD: This was a parallel-group, pre- and post-test, randomised controlled pilot trial. Forty-five male amateur soccer players from Tehran, Iran, were randomly assigned into experimental (n=23) and control groups (n=22). Outcomes were scores on the mindfulness sport inventory, as well as injury rates and recovery as assessed by a physiotherapist using standardised criteria. Expert observers assessed the effect on individual and team performance. Data were analysed using mixed analysis of variance and, where indicated, its non-parametric alternative, the Friedman test. RESULTS: Significantly greater mindfulness scores in the intervention group were associated with both reduced injury and improved performance. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness training shows promise in preventing injury and improving performance. The intervention could be applied to other sports and be helpful in clinical settings given the importance of exercise in promoting psychological well-being.

Applying mindfulness training to enhance the mental toughness and emotional intelligence of amateur basketball players.

OBJECTIVES: Mindfulness is a proven treatment in clinical settings. Our objective was to examine the feasibility and effect of a mindfulness-training program on the mental resilience and emotional intelligence of amateur basketball players. METHODS: This was a parallel-group, pre- and post- test, randomised controlled trial. Thirty male amateur male basketball players from Tehran, Iran, were assigned randomly into experimental and control groups (n = 15 each). Outcomes were measured using the mindfulness sport inventory, mental toughness (MT) questionnaire and emotional intelligence questionnaire. Data were analysed using ANCOVA and MANCOVA. RESULTS: Mindfulness scores were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the controls following training. The intervention also increased overall MT and all of the component sub scores. The same applied to emotional intelligence and all of its components. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may have implications on sport mindfulness training in increasing the MT and emotional intelligence of athletes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness based interventions and yoga in inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness interventions are increasingly used as a part of integrated treatment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but there are limited data and a lack of consensus regarding effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: We explored the efficacy of mindfulness interventions compared to treatment as usual (TAU), or other psychotherapeutic interventions, in treating physical and psychosocial symptoms associated with IBD. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We included a broad range of mindfulness interventions including mindfulness-based interventions and yoga, with no restrictions on date of publication, participants' age, language or publication type. We searched the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and WHO ICTRP database. We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines in conducting the review. RESULTS: We included eight studies in the meta-analysis. Mindfulness interventions showed a statistically significant effect on stress in both the short(SMD = -0.48; 95%CI:-0.97, 0.00; P = .05), and long term(SMD = -0.55; 95%CI:-0.78, -0.32; P < .00001), significant long term effects on depression (SMD = -0.36; 95%CI:-0.66, -0.07; P = .02) and quality of life (SMD = 0.38; 95%CI:0.08, 0.68; P = .01),and small but not statistically significant improvements in anxiety (SMD = -0.27; 95%CI:-0.65, 0.11; P = .16).Effects on physical outcomes were equivocal and not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness interventions are effective in reducing stress and depression and improving quality of life and anxiety, but do not lead to significant improvements in the physical symptoms of IBD. Further research involving IBD-tailored interventions and more rigorously designed trials is warranted.

Executive Functions in Students With Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate and compare the executive functions of students with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms with those functions in healthy ones. METHODS: This study was a comparative and non-clinical analysis. The study population comprised all students of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. A total of 448 students were recruited using convenience sampling method. They were also screened using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) test comprising 21 items. Of study participants, 30 people were depressed, 27 had anxiety, and 15 suffered from stress. Then, 50 control people were matched with them. Next, both groups were compared using the Stroop test, Wisconsin card sorting, and cognitive ability test. RESULTS: Using MANOVA test, data analysis revealed no significant differences among 4 groups with regard to selective attention and shifting attention. Depressed group reacted rapidly as opposed to the anxiety group with regard to measures of shifting attention and cognitive abilities; it was observed that the memory, inhibition control, planning, and flexibility of the healthy group were better than those of the 3 other groups. CONCLUSION: The findings of this research raised specific issues in relation to the role of depression, anxiety, and stress in the disruption of the executive functions of sufferers. Selective and shifting attention and cognitive abilities are specifically affected in this regard. Meanwhile, the role of stress in impairing decision making and the major role of anxiety in impairing sustained attention was shown to be considerable.

Effects of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy on Depressive Symptoms and Executive Functioning in Major Depression.

This study examined the efficacy of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) on depressive symptoms and executive functioning in patients with major depression. We examined pretest, posttest, and follow-up depression scores as well as pretest-posttest executive functioning scores between 16 participants receiving ISTDP and 16 allocated to wait-list control. Participants in each group were matched according to age, sex, and educational level. Mixed-models analyses demonstrated significant interaction effects of group and time on depression scores when the group ISTDP was compared with the wait-list control group; participants receiving ISTDP had significantly reduced depression severity both after treatment and at follow-up. Next, a series of hierarchical regression models demonstrated modest improvements on most tests of executive functioning in participants receiving ISTDP. Depressed patients receiving ISTDP show a sustained reduction in depression severity after treatment and after 12-month follow-up and improvements in executive functioning after treatment compared with a wait-list control.