Objectives

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been found effective in reducing depressive symptoms in adults suffering from recurrent depression. However, sustained recovery after MBCT is modest and may require additional, sequential treatment. Basing such additions on known working mechanisms of MBCT, like increases in (self-)compassion, is likely to reap further benefits. Mindfulness-based compassionate living (MBCL) is designed as a follow-up to MBCT and has been shown effective in reducing depressive symptoms. It has a similar format to MBCT: eight weekly group sessions and additional home practice. MBCL has a more explicit focus on cultivating (self-)compassion in response to difficult experiences. Little is known about the potential experiential added value of MBCL after MBCT. The current study aims to fill this gap.

Methods

A grounded theory approach was used to analyze in-depth interviews, which were held post-intervention with a purposive sample of patients who participated in a randomized controlled trial of MBCL for recurrent depression.

Results

Participants indicated that MBCL particularly had added value in terms of its immediate applicability in situations of deep suffering. Four themes emerged: (1) the container of kindness, (2) exposure to the difficult, (3) empowerment, and (4) common humanity.

Conclusion

This study shows that participants experienced an additional value of MBCL over and above MBCT. The results provide insight into the processes underlying the efficacy of MBCL in reducing depressive symptoms and may help address underlying mechanisms of vulnerability in this population as well as tap into mechanisms that enhance resilience.

中文翻译：

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基于正念的慈悲生活 (MBCL)：一项关于慈悲在复发性抑郁症中的附加价值的定性研究

目标

已发现基于正念的认知疗法 (MBCT) 可有效减轻患有复发性抑郁症的成年人的抑郁症状。然而，MBCT 后的持续恢复是适度的，可能需要额外的序贯治疗。基于 MBCT 的已知工作机制进行此类添加，例如（自我）同情心的增加，可能会获得进一步的好处。基于正念的慈悲生活 (MBCL) 被设计为 MBCT 的后续行动，并已被证明可有效减轻抑郁症状。它的形式与 MBCT 类似：每周八次小组会议和额外的家庭练习。MBCL 更明确地关注培养（自我）同情心以应对困难的经历。关于 MBCT 后 MBCL 的潜在体验附加值知之甚少。目前的研究旨在填补这一空白。

方法

使用扎根理论方法分析深度访谈，这些访谈是在干预后对参与 MBCL 复发性抑郁症随机对照试验的患者的有目的样本进行的。

结果

参与者表示，MBCL 特别具有附加值，因为它可以立即适用于深切痛苦的情况。出现了四个主题：（1）善良的容器，（2）接触困难，（3）赋权，以及（4）共同的人性。

结论

这项研究表明，参与者经历了 MBCL 的额外价值，而不是 MBCT。结果提供了对 MBCL 减轻抑郁症状功效的潜在过程的深入了解，并可能有助于解决该人群脆弱性的潜在机制，以及挖掘增强复原力的机制。