Efficacy of Mindfulness Based on Cognitive Therapy on Impulsivity and Self- Inhibition in Patients with Bipolar Disorder under Medical Treatment

Bipolar disorder is combined with chronic symptoms that have effect on cognitive abilities and executive functions. The purpose of present study was to investigate efficacy of mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on impulsivity and self-inhibition in the patients with bipolar disorder under medical treatment.

This study was quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design with the control group. 30 men and women with bipolar disorder referred to psychiatry center of Almahdi Welfare in Esfahan were selected through convenience sampling method and assigned in two groups: experimental (14) and control (16) randomly. Both groups performed behavioral impulsivity scale (BIS-11) and self-inhibition scale (SRS) in the pretest and posttest phases. Experimental group was treated with mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for 8 sessions. The data were analyzed by MANCOVA.

Covariate analyze demonstrated that  of mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was effective on reducing the impulsivity and increasing the self-inhibition in the experimental group.

Based on this finding, reduce cognitive impulsivity and motor impulsivity, and increase self-inhibition in anger control, impulse control and respect for others dimensions, is because of mindfulness based on cognitive therapy. Considering psychological intervention based on mindfulness, in addition to medical treatment is of particular importance.