Autobiographical memory style and clinical outcomes following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT): An individual patient data meta-analysis. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hitchcock, Caitlin; Rudokaite, Judita; Haag, Christina; Patel, Shivam D.; Smith, Alicia J.; Kuhn, Isla; Jermann, Francoise; Ma, S. Helen; Kuyken, Willem; Williams, J. MarkG.; Watkins, Edward; Bockting, Claudi L.H.; Crane, Catherine; Fisher, David; Dalgleish, Tim
• Is Part Of: Behaviour research and therapy. Volume 151(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Autobiographical memory -- Mindfulness -- Cogntive therapy -- Treatment response -- Individual patient data meta-analysis; Cognitive therapy -- Periodicals; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.891
• DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0005-7967

Abstract

Abstract: The ability to retrieve specific, single-incident autobiographical memories has been consistently posited as a predictor of recurrent depression. Elucidating the role of autobiographical memory specificity in patient-response to depressive treatments may improve treatment efficacy and facilitate use of science-driven interventions. We used recent methodological advances in individual patient data meta-analysis to determine a) whether memory specificity is improved following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), relative to control interventions, and b) whether pre-treatment memory specificity moderates treatment response. All bar one study evaluated MBCT for relapse prevention for depression. Our initial analysis therefore focussed on MBCT datasets only( n = 708), then were repeated including the additional dataset( n = 880). Memory specificity did not significantly differ from baseline to post-treatment for either MBCT and Control interventions. There was no evidence that baseline memory specificity predicted treatment response in terms of symptom-levels, or risk of relapse. Findings raise important questions regarding the role of memory specificity in depressive treatments. Highlights: Individual participant data meta-analysis of memory specificity and treatment response. All bar one study evaluated MBCT for relapse prevention. Memory specificity did not change from baseline to post-treatment. No evidence that memory specificity predicted treatment response or risk of relapse.