Is mindfulness a mediator factor in obsessive compulsive disorder?

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on positive reappraisal in patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: The research design was quasi-experimental of pre-test and post-test type with control group. The statistical population of present study involved all patients referring to psychiatry clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences who received obsessive-compulsive disorders diagnosis. Thirty available patients were selected that filled cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ) after being randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group attended 8 sessions of MBCT. The cognitive emotional regulation questioner was administered after completion of the sessions and data of both states (before and after sessions) were collected and analyzed using covariance analysis test. Results: The MBCT was effective in increasing positive strategies (positive reappraisal, positive refocusing, planning, putting into perspective) and decreasing negative strategies (self-blame, blaming others, catastrophizing, rumination, and acceptance) in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that it is possible to increase positive strategies of emotion regulation through training MBCT.

Keywords: Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Positive Reappraisal