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
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Apr;83(2):304-313.
doi: 10.1037/a0038404. Epub 2014 Dec 15.

Expanding the efficacy of Project UPLIFT: Distance delivery of mindfulness-based depression prevention to people with epilepsy

Nancy J Thompson  1 , Archna H Patel  1 , Linda M Selwa  2 , Shelley C Stoll  3 , Charles E Begley  4 , Erica K Johnson  5 , Robert T Fraser  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Expanding the efficacy of Project UPLIFT: Distance delivery of mindfulness-based depression prevention to people with epilepsy

Nancy J Thompson et al. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Depression affects about 16% of the U.S. population over a lifetime. People with chronic diseases have especially high rates of comorbid depression; 32% to 48% of people with epilepsy experience depression. This study evaluated the efficacy of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention for preventing major depressive disorder (MDD) episodes in people with epilepsy.

Method: Participants (n = 128) were adults from Georgia, Michigan, Texas, and Washington with epilepsy and mild/moderate depressive symptoms. The 8-session weekly Project UPLIFT intervention, based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, was group-delivered via Web or telephone. Using a randomized, controlled crossover design, participants were assigned to Project UPLIFT or a treatment-as-usual (TAU) waitlist and assessed at baseline, and after intervening in the intervention group (∼10 weeks) and in the TAU group (∼20 weeks). Assessments included valid self-report measures of depression and MDD, knowledge/skills, and satisfaction with life.

Results: The incidence of MDD episodes (new or relapse) from baseline to interim assessment was significantly lower in the intervention condition (0.0%) than in TAU (10.7%). Depressive symptoms decreased significantly more in the intervention condition than in TAU; Web and telephone did not differ. Change in knowledge/skills mediated the effect, which persisted over the 10 weeks of follow-up. Knowledge/skills and life satisfaction increased significantly more in the intervention condition than in TAU.

Conclusions: Distance delivery of group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can prevent episodes of MDD, reduce symptoms of depression, and increase life satisfaction in people with epilepsy. This intervention is easily modified for persons with other chronic diseases and other disparity populations. (PsycINFO Database Record

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Crossover Design
Figure 2
Figure 2
CONSORT Flow Diagram
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Agresti A, Coull BA. Approximate is better than “exact” for interval estimation of binomial proportions. The American Statistician. 1998;52(2):119–126.
    1. American Epilepsy Society, & The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Living Well with Epilepsy II. Baltimore, Maryland: 2003. Report of the 2003 National Conference on Public Health and Epilepsy: Priorities for a public health agenda on epilepsy.
    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: Author; 1994.
    1. Andresen EM, Catlin TK, Wyrwich KW, Jackson-Thompson J. Retest reliability of surveillance questions on health related quality of life. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003;57(5):339–343. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Baron RM, Kenny DA. The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1986;51(6):1173–1182. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms