Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in the Decrease of Depression and Maniac Symptoms of Individuals Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is characterized as a chronic disorder which maintains elevated relapse rate. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, which is generally based on meditative techniques integrated with some aspects of cognitive therapy, has been recommended for the treatment of this disorder. Hence, the research purpose was to carry out an investigation into the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the decrease of depression and maniac symptoms of individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. A semi-experimental method with post-test-pre-test design was employed and a sample of 19 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder was assigned to the experimental (n=9) and control (n 10) groups. The subjects underwent 8 sessions of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and were tested in terms of maniac and depression symptoms. Covariance analysis indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy could significantly reduce the depression symptoms in the experimental group as compared to the control group. However, no improvement was observed in maniac symptoms. Overall, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can be a preferred therapy in the treatment of bipolar disorder in general and depression symptoms, in particular.