Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Reduces Symptoms of Depression in People With a Traumatic Brain Injury: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Given the high rates of depression in individuals who have a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and the well-established benefits of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to address chronic depression in non-brain injured people, researchers examined whether a mindfulness based cognitive intervention could reduce symptoms of depression in individuals with mTBI. The researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a 10-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention to a wait-listed control group with mTBI. The results showed that the mindfulness-based intervention significantly reduced symptoms of depression in individuals with mTBI in comparison to the control group. Furthermore, this reduction was maintained at a three month follow up.

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Simultaneous Treatment of Neurocognitive and Psychiatric Symptoms in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and History of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot study of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

In recognition of prior studies showing evidence that mindfulness-based interventions addressed cognitive or psychiatric symptoms in isolation. This study sought to examine whether a mindfulness-based intervention might help address neurocognitive and psychiatric symptomatology simultaneously. This pilot study used pre-post mixed methods to collect data on a sample of military Veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who participated in a mindfulness-based stress reduction course. The data revealed significant improvement in attention immediately following MBSR that was largely sustained at a three month follow up. Similarly, the researchers found a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms immediately after MBSR that was sustained at the 3-month follow-up.

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A Pilot Study Examining the Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Symptoms of Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury / Postconcussive Syndrome

This pilot study was conducted at an outpatient brain injury rehabilitation facility with 22 individuals who had persistent postconcussive symptoms several months after they had sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Participants in the study engaged in a 10-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course tailored for patients with persisting symptoms of mTBI. The researchers aimed to explore whether MBSR could be adapted and implemented with patients with persistent symptoms after mTBI, as well as to determine the effects of such a treatment. Results of the study demonstrated that this mindfulness-based intervention could be implemented with people suffering from persistent symptoms of mTBI. Furthermore, participants showed clinically meaningful improvements on measures of quality of life and perceived self-efficacy. They also exhibited improvements on neuropsychological measures of cognitive functioning, including aspects of executive functions and the regulation of attention.

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The Effects of Meditation on Grey Matter Atrophy and Neurodegeneration: A Systematic Review

This article reviews several studies providing evidence that meditation practices increase grey matter volume in the brain of healthy individuals. It also discusses two studies showing positive findings in the brains of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases who had participated in meditation training.

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