A randomized controlled neurophysiological study of a chinese chan-based mind-body intervention in patients with major depressive disorder.
Author: Chan AS1, Han YM2, Sze SL3, Wong QY4, Cheung MC5.
Affiliation:
1Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong ; Henan Songshan Research Institute for Chanwuyi, Henan 452470, China. 2Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Tai Po, Hong Kong. 3Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong ; Chanwuyi Research Center for Neuropsychological Well-Being, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong. 4Division II, Kwai Chung Hospital, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. 5Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
Date published: 2013
Other:
Volume ID: 2013 , Pages: 812096 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2013/812096 , Word Count: 194
Our previous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of 10-session Chinese Chan-based Dejian mind-body interventions (DMBI) in reducing the intake of antidepressants, improving depressive symptoms, and enhancing the attentional abilities of patients with depression. This study aims to explore the possible neuroelectrophysiological mechanisms underlying the previously reported treatment effects of DMBI in comparison with those of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Seventy-five age-, gender-, and education-matched participants with depression were randomly assigned to receive either CBT or DMBI or placed on a waitlist. Eyes-closed resting EEG data were obtained individually before and after 10 weeks. After intervention, the DMBI group demonstrated significantly enhanced frontal alpha asymmetry (an index of positive mood) and intra- and interhemispheric theta coherence in frontoposterior and posterior brain regions (an index of attention). In contrast, neither the CBT nor the waitlist group showed significant changes in EEG activity patterns. Furthermore, the asymmetry and coherence indices of the DMBI group were correlated with self-reported depression severity levels and performance on an attention test, respectively. The present findings provide support for the effects of a Chinese Chan-based mind-body intervention in fostering human brain states that can facilitate positive mood and an attentive mind.
PMID: 24489591
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