Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 2012 Oct 31:12:185.
doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-12-185.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder - a qualitative study on patients' experiences

Elisabeth Hertenstein  1 , Nina Rose, Ulrich Voderholzer, Thomas Heidenreich, Christoph Nissen, Nicola Thiel, Nirmal Herbst, Anne Katrin Külz
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in obsessive-compulsive disorder - a qualitative study on patients' experiences

Elisabeth Hertenstein et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the first-line treatment for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, not all of them achieve remission on a longterm basis. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) represents a new 8-week group therapy program whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in various mental disorders, but has not yet been applied to patients with OCD. The present pilot study aimed to qualitatively assess the subjective experiences of patients with OCD who participated in MBCT.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 patients suffering from OCD directly after 8 sessions of a weekly MBCT group program. Data were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis.

Results: Participants valued the treatment as helpful in dealing with their OCD and OCD-related problems. Two thirds of the patients reported a decline in OCD symptoms. Benefits included an increased ability to let unpleasant emotions surface and to live more consciously in the present. However, participants also discussed several problems.

Conclusion: The data provide preliminary evidence that patients with OCD find aspects of the current MBCT protocol acceptable and beneficial. The authors suggest to further explore MBCT as a complementary treatment strategy for OCD.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Kabat-Zinn J. Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain, and illness. 15 anniversary ed. New York, NY US: Delta Trade Paperback/Bantam Dell; 2005.
    1. Segal ZV, Williams JMG, Teasdale JD. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York, NY US: Guilford Press; 2002.
    1. Chiesa A, Serretti A. Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2011;187:441–453. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.08.011. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Fjorback LO, Arendt M, Ørnbøl E, Fink P, Walach H. Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy—A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2011;124:102–119. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2011.01704.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Allen M, Bromley A, Kuyken W, Sonnenberg SJ. Participants’ experiences of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: “It changed me in just about every way possible. Behav Cognit Psychother. 2009;37:413–430. doi: 10.1017/S135246580999004X. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types