fMRI research assesses benefits of mindfulness therapy in patients with depression
Since 2014, Benjamin Shapero, PhD, and Gaëlle Desbordes, PhD, professors of psychiatry and radiology at Harvard Medical School, have been studying the cognitive effects of mindfulness mediation for patients with clinical depression, according to an April 9 article in the Harvard Gazette.
For their research, Shapero and Desbordes have utilized functional MRI (fMRI) on patients with clinical depression to image the brain and record cognitive activity. Specifically, examinations are conducted before and after participants complete an eight-week course in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
According to the article, Desbordes wants to test whether MBCT training enhances body awareness in the moment, or interoception, which may give patients the ability to break the cycle of self-rumination. The researchers are also interested in using the findings to refine treatment for depression and to better understand how to differentiate between patients who benefit from MBCT and those who do not.
“We know those brain systems involved with interoception, and we know those involved with rumination and depression," Desbordes told The Harvard Gazette. "I want to test, after taking MBCT, whether we see changes in these networks, particularly in tasks specifically engaging them."
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A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.