Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Major Depressive Disorder: A Study Protocol of a Randomized Control Trial and a Case–Control Study With Electroencephalogram

• Main Authors: Tianran Zhang, Lanlan Wang, Yanle Bai, Wenqing Zhao, Yanru Wu, Wenhui Jiang, Qing Fan, Jianyin Qiu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-07-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychiatry
• Subjects: major depressive disorder; mindfulness based cognitive therapy; randomized-control trial; case-control study; electroencephalogram
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.499633/full

Background: In this report, a study protocol for a randomized control trial is presented in an attempt to explore the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for major depressive disorder (MMD), and a case–control study is conducted to find the difference in electroencephalograms (EEGs) between MMD and normal controls.Design: Seventy Chinese patients with MMD will be chosen for random division in the MBCT group or medication group, with half of the participants receiving common medication treatment [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)] and half receiving MBCT as a supplement to the common medication treatment. All participants, namely, 70 MMD cases and 35 matched normal controls, will be tested by a range of scales and EEG at baseline (week 0), mid-intervention (weeks 2, 4, and 6), post-intervention (week 8), and 6-months follow-up (weeks 12, 20, and 32).Discussion: The findings of this study will provide a positive reference for the treatment of depression and future research on MBCT treatment mechanism.Trial Registration: NCT03558256. Registered: June 13, 2018—retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03558256.