The Chinese medicine construct "stagnation" in mind-body connection mediates the effects of mindfulness training on depression and anxiety. 


Author: Lo HH, Ng SM, Chan CL, Lam KF, Lau BH.

Affiliation: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: hmlosw@hku.hk. 
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Med. 
Date published: 2013 Aug
Other:
 Volume ID: 21   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Pages: 348-57   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2013.05.008   ,  Word Count: 251  
    

OBJECTIVES:

Previous studies have identified different, but highly correlated variables explaining the effects of mindfulness training. Many of them are limited by tautological explanation. Under the framework of the mind-body connection, mindfulness training cultivates body awareness and promotes self-management of illness. Stagnation, a concept from Chinese medicine, may help explain the mechanism of change in mindfulness training.

METHODS:

Individuals with depressive and anxiety symptoms (n=82) were randomized to either a Compassion-Mindfulness Therapy (C-MT) program or a waitlist control condition. The effect of stagnation as a mediator was investigated for dependent variables including depression, anxiety, and other physical and mental health variables.

MAJOR OUTCOME MEASURES:

Depression, anxiety, stagnation, physical distress, daily functioning, positive affect, negative affect.

RESULTS:

Compared with the participants in the control group, those who completed C-MT demonstrated significant decreases in depression, F(1, 78)=15.67, p<.001, anxiety, F(1, 78)=7.72, p<.001, stagnation, F(1, 78)=4.96, p<.001, and other body-mind-spirit well-being measures. After entering the change in stagnation as the mediator, the effect of treatment reduced: depression (.35-.22), anxiety (.33-.05), and same patterns in other three secondary measures. The Sobel test was administered and significant reductions between group and depression (z=2.18, p=.029), anxiety (z=2.21, p=.027), and three secondary other measures (p<.05) were indicated.

CONCLUSION:

The study provides initial support for the role of stagnation in mediating changes in mindfulness training. It adds evidence to body-mind nondualism and offers new possibilities in studying treatment process and change mechanism.

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Anxiety, Depression, Mediator, Mindfulness meditation, Mindfulness training, Stagnation



PMID: 23876566