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NEW STUDY ON DEPRESSION, WANDERING MIND AND MINDFULNESS

Thursday, August 21, 2014 17:35

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The most satisfying work I’ve done in my long career as a lawyer, educator and minister of religion is my ongoing lectureship at the NSW Institute of Psychiatry. It’s like this. Whenever I go there to lecture I hear real-life stories from mental health workers of various kinds about the stark reality of mental illness (or mental illnesses and mental disorders, I should say). Besides that, I have my own very real and at times very ugly story of mental illness—years of clinical depression and active alcoholism.

Auditorium/lecture room at the NSW Institute of Psychiaty

North Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Fortunately, those things are for me now well in the past, but many people still suffer from those and other mental illnesses—not only the actual sufferers themselves but also those who whom they’re closely associated. The untimely death of the actor Robin Williams reminds us all, if we needed any further reminder, that mental illness of all kinds is no respecter of persons. The main reason I write this blog is the hope that something I say may be of help to someone else. That may sound a bit patronizing but it’s the goddam truth.

Now, there have been many studies and even some meta-analytic reviews, on the efficacy of mindfulness in treating depression. For example, one such meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in April 2010, which was based on 39 studies totaling 1,140 participants receiving mindfulness-based therapy for a range of conditions including cancer, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and other psychiatric or medical conditions, concluded that mindfulness-based therapy was a promising intervention for treating anxiety and mood problems in clinical populations.

Here’s yet another study—and, I think, a most interesting one.

One of the very real problems associated with depression—and not just depression—is the ‘wandering mind.’ The mind wanders off and ruminates, often obsessively, on things that are ‘sad’ or ‘depressing,’ adding only more fuel to the fires of depression. Even if we aren’t suffering from major depression we all know the presence and effects of the wandering mind (also known as the ‘monkey mind’). At times this ‘monkey’ can be almost a cute little thing but for some people this ‘monkey’ is nothing short of a ferocious King Kong. Its presence and effects destroy their peace of mind and have even been known to drive some to the brink of despair and even suicide.

What can be done about it? Well, I am not one who believes that there is ever one single ‘magic bullet’ cure for any mental illness or mental disorder, and certainly not major depression. A combination of therapies, including drug therapy, is usually required. I got a lot of help for my depression from insight-oriented psychotheraypy and antidepressants. As regards alcoholism the only thing that saved me was AA—and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who has a problem with drinking and has a desire to stop drinking. (Note. A desire to stop drinking, which is essential to giving up alcholol, is the only requirement for AA membership.)

A new study has examined the relationship between wandering mind, depression and mindfulness. The researchers used the Sustained Attention to Response Task to assess the wandering mind, while the online thought probes were employed as the subjective marker for mind-wandering. The Beck Depression Inventory and Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale were used to assess depression and dispositional mindfulness respectively. The results revealed that the wandering mind, even without awareness, was not only positively associated with depression, but also negatively related to dispositional mindfulness. Depression was negatively related to dispositional mindfulness.

In other words, depression and the wandering mind tend to cohabit, and it would seem the greater the activity and intensity of the wandering mind, the worse is the depression. (Note: The researchers are not actually saying that wandering mind is the cause, or even one of the possible causes, of a person’s depression.) So-called dispositional mindfulness—that is, a mindset, regularly held, practised and sustained, of mindful awareness of what is, including an awareness of awareness itself—reduces the activity and intensity of the wandering mind. Finally, depression and dispositional mindfulness do not ordinarily cohabit.

The researchers conclude that the results of the study might provide evidence that a wandering mind is positively associated with depression and mindfulness.

Now, although I am ‘sold’ on mindfulness I never advise anyone to give up their present treatment(s), and rely entirely upon mindfulness, for the treatment of mental illness until after discussing the matter with their health care professionals. There is also an important notice at the foot of this post.

Study: Deng Y, Li S, and Yang Y. ‘The Relationship Between Wandering Mind, Depression and Mindfulness,’ Mindfulness, April 2014, Vol 5, Issue 2, pp 124-128. Date: 13 Oct 2012.

CANCER SURVIVORS BENEFIT FROM MEDITATION AND MINDFUL YOGA

STUDY FINDS MINDFULNESS AS EFFECTIVE AS ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN PREVENTING DEPRESSION RELAPSE

MINDFULNESS MAY ASSIST WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

MINDFULNESS YOGA REDUCES DEPRESSION IN PREGNANT WOMEN

MINDFULNESS AND OBSESSIONAL THOUGHTS

THE NSW INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY

IMPORTANT NOTICE: See the Terms of Use and Disclaimer. The information provided on this blog is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your medical practitioner or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on this blog. For immediate advice or support call Lifeline on 13 1 1 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. For information, advice and referral on mental illness contact the SANE Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263) go online via sane.org

Source: http://ianellis-jones.blogspot.com/2014/08/new-study-on-depression-wandering-mind.html

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