Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression after traumatic brain injury: responders' characteristics

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter day-to-day life. While changes in cognition and physical function are most often cited, emotional disturbances, notably depression, are also common. For individuals who experience depression symptoms, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may afford the opportunity to address these symptoms by teaching skills to mitigate negative thought patterns and foster acceptance. Yet, as with any treatment for depression, MBCT may not be the best fit for everyone. According to the literature, characteristics such as age, gender, and baseline mindfulness or pain levels have the potential to affect treatment response. While these factors have yet to be explored within a TBI sample, we must additionally consider whether possible cognitive impairment due to TBI plays a role in treatment response. Drawing from an earlier multi-site randomized controlled trial to explore the efficacy of MBCT for depression in a TBI sample, the current study examined the associations between a number of baseline factors (demographic, emotional, physical, and cognitive) and decreased depression scores post-intervention. Partial correlations adjusted for gender. Findings indicated that only higher levels of pain at baseline were associated with lesser effectiveness of the intervention. MBCT offers a good treatment option for most individuals experiencing depression following TBI.