The Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on the Executive Functions of adults with Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome

Investigating the effectiveness of mindfulness cognitive therapy on improving executive functions in adults with cds

Randomized clinical trial with parallel groups and waiting list control. After screening, 40 eligible individuals were randomly assigned to either MBCT (8 group sessions; n=20) or wait list control (n=20). Due to the nature of the intervention, blinding of participants and therapists will not possible; however, the outcome assessor (and, where possible, the data analyst) will be blinded to group allocation.

The study will conducted at the Counseling Center of Persian Gulf University (Bushehr). Eligible participants will randomized to MBCT or waitlist control and assessed at pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up. Although participant/therapist blinding will not feasible, the outcome assessor will blinded via group coding.

Participants were adults with cognitive disinhibition syndrome, screened through the Persian Gulf University Counseling Center. Inclusion criteria included age 18–40 years, diagnosis based on clinical assessment and validated instruments (including the ACI questionnaire), written informed consent, ability to attend regularly and complete assessments at three times, and no active psychotic disorder or neurological disease. Inclusion criteria included missing more than two sessions, initiating/majorly changing concurrent medication or psychotherapy during the study, developing an acute clinical condition (such as mania or psychotic symptoms), and withdrawing or failing to complete posttest/follow-up assessments.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy control group receives no intervention.

Planning; sustained attention; cognitive flexibility, Inhibition

The sampling method of this study is multi-stage cluster random sampling, and the assignment of subjects to groups is also random. After entering the screening and entry conditions, participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)" and "Waiting List Control". The randomization method is simple randomization (simple randomization) and the randomization unit is considered to be individual (individual level). This means that each participant will be independently placed in one of the two groups. The allocation sequence will be created using SPSS software and the Random Number Generator function. The final list of allocations will be prepared by an independent researcher who has no intervention in the evaluation process. For allocation concealment, the group codes (A and B) will be placed in opaque and sealed envelopes and the envelopes will be opened in order based on the sequence of companies' arrival to minimize the possibility of bias in allocation. The assessors of the tests (TOL, CPT, WCST) will be blinded to the company grouping. Stratified randomization (stratified randomization) is not used in this study because the sample size was limited and population characteristics (gender, age) are matched between groups.

Participants: Individuals enrolled in the study were aware of the type of treatment they were receiving (cognitive-behavioral or cognitive-mindfulness), but were not accurately informed of the existence of a control group and between-group comparisons to reduce the expectation effect. Principal Investigator: The principal investigator, who was responsible for data analysis, was not aware of the coding of groups (A, B, and C) until the end of data collection, and analyses were conducted as anonymous data. Therapists: Due to the nature of psychological interventions, therapists were aware of the type of intervention they were implementing and there was no possibility of blinding them. Healthcare personnel: Because the intervention was implemented in an academic setting and by a trained researcher, clinical personnel had no involvement in the treatment and care of participants. Data collectors and outcome assessors: The individuals who collected and scored the questionnaires were unaware of the type of intervention and the grouping of participants. The questionnaires were delivered and analyzed with only the participants' anonymous codes (without mentioning the treatment group). Authors of the final report: The initial writing of the article was done based on the coded data (without disclosing the groups) and only after the statistical analyses were completed, the group codes were opened and the results were interpreted accordingly.

Privacy

All data is potentially shareable after de-identifying individuals.

From the time of defense for 6 months

Researchers working in academic and scientific institutions

No analysis or use is permitted.

To receive data/documents, please contact your supervisor, Dr. Golestaneh, at the email address golestaneh@pgu.ac.ir.

Approval from researcher, supervisors and advisors