Ending the cycle of negative thought
rumination is the premise of a depression treatment called metacognitive
therapy. New findings suggest that it may be more beneficial in stopping
depression relapse than other more commonly used methods.
Depression is a huge
global health issue. As the leading cause
of disability in the United States for those between the ages
of 15 and 44 years, it has a significant effect on individuals and society as a
whole.
With more than 300
million people currently living with depression, finding a long
lasting treatment is vital. Unfortunately, relapses are common.
Treatments, which
include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
and medication, can work well in the short term, but many people's symptoms
return either within a few months or later on in life.
In fact, only about
30% of people with depression have not relapsed 18 months after the end of
their treatment.
The findings of the
new study, which features in Frontiers in Psychology,
provide early evidence of the benefits of metacognitive therapy.
Not only is recovery
more likely using this treatment method, according to the authors, but people
may find it less taxing.
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Learning not to
ruminate
While CBT requires a
person to delve into their previous worries, metacognitive therapy teaches
people not to concentrate on negative thoughts.
"Most of us have
negative thoughts; we think we're not good enough, or we don't accomplish what
we want to," explains Prof. Odin Hjemdal, who works in the department of
psychology at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.
"But only [a] few
people get clinically depressed because most of us can put aside our repeating
thoughts, rather than getting stuck in them."
"What perpetuates
depression," he adds, "is that you get stuck in a thought pattern and
ruminate about the same thing over and over."
By becoming aware of
this process, people can choose a different and less damaging path to tread.
Significant
improvements
In the study, the
researchers offered 39 participants with major depression 10 sessions of
metacognitive therapy.
They then divided the
participants into two groups. The participants in the first group received
metacognitive therapy immediately, whereas those in the second group had to
wait 10 weeks to begin treatment.
Study challenges
link between depression and inflammation
During this waiting
period, two people dropped out. A total of 34 participants took part in a
follow-up assessment a year later, which involved filling out a questionnaire
at home.
The assessment showed that 1 year after metacognitive therapy,
the team still classified between 67% and 73% of the participants as recovered.
Different measuring
techniques — one taking into account all of the original participants and the
other one only analyzing those who completed the questionnaire — provided the
two different percentages.
The researchers also
noted significant recovery among those with severe symptoms. Of those with
severe depression, 79% had recovered at the follow-up, compared with 60% of
those with moderate depression.
Only 15% of the
participants had seen no change a year after treatment, while just 13% of
recovered individuals had relapsed within the year.
The rest saw some
signs of improvement. There was also a notable reduction in anxiety among
the overall group.
What we still do not
know
"We're a little
surprised, but we're really happy that it's turned out this way," says
Prof. Hjemdal. "To us, it seems that when patients crack the code and
manage to change their thinking styles and patterns, they stay healthy."
"But," he
adds, "there's still more we need to know." For example, researchers
will need to study the long term effects of metacognitive therapy and compare
it with other available treatments, as well as ensuring that diagnostic criteria
are in place for follow-up assessments.
Although the study
included an almost equal number of men and women (59% of the participants were
female), its small sample size means that larger scale studies are necessary
before scientists can form any strong conclusions.
Despite all this,
Prof. Hjemdal believes that "[a]s a society, we could save a lot of money
and spare people a lot of personal suffering if we provide metacognitive
therapy treatment to help individuals with depression."
Source: Medical News Today
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