Mindfulness can be used to combat depression, always as part of structured intervention, which is of great importance when the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that depression is a common mental disorder, affecting at least 300 million people worldwide today. is the world’s leading cause of disability, as well as the direct and indirect increase in morbidity.
WHO says that in the worst case depression can lead to suicide, however, there are effective treatments to overcome it adequately, every year more than 800,000 people commit suicide, being the second leading cause of death between the age of 15 and 29. Group.
- Although there are different types of treatments to treat psychopathology.
- Not all have the same effectiveness in the patient.
- Finding the one that best suits your needs is the best way to heal yourself without side effects.
“Depression can become a serious health problem, especially when it is long-term and moderate to severe, and can cause a lot of suffering and change work, school and family activities. -World Health Organization-
A survey from the prestigious Harvard University has investigated how the brain changes in depressed patients through mindfulness. Benjamin Shapero, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS), says many people do not respond adequately to the first procedure that occurs. searching for items that complement it can be extremely rewarding for public health.
Shapero argues that while cognitive behavioral therapy is helpful, as well as antidepressant medications, these approaches work better and achieve results more quickly if other resources are implemented as part of therapy, such as mindfulness. On the other hand, each patient will respond better if they follow an intervention adapted to their needs.
Gaelle Desbordes, a neuroscientist at the MGH Biomedical Imaging Center, is working with Dr. Shapero on this project. The starting point of Desbordes’ interest is very personal, as she began to meditate during her student years.
Harvard reports that research that used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe brain activity. The university explains that in 2012 it was shown that the changes made to the proposed intervention, which included mindfulness, were maintained even when participants were not meditating.
It is currently being investigated in patients diagnosed with depression, which explores the effects of meditation on the brains of their patients.
Research digitizes images before and after more than eight weeks of conscious cognitive therapy, so differential changes are observed in patients who practice mindfulness.
“If we want it to become a therapy or something offered in the community, we have to prove [its benefits] scientifically. “- Gaelle Overflows-
Overflows wants to test the hypothesis that practicing mindfulness to combat depression allows patients to let negative thoughts go faster. The training aims to draw attention to him here and now.
In addition, other researchers are studying the effects of meditation and the existing variations of these practices. One way or another, research can dramatically improve people’s quality of life globally.
Practicing mindfulness to combat depression not only helps patients cope with limiting situations, but also improves their quality of life, even in cases of mild depression, this can help the patient recover without the need for psychotropic medications, however, it is always recommended that in case of pathology, the doctor is consulted, to design an intervention that adapts to the circumstances of each one.
“We know the brain systems involved in interception and know those involved in rumination and depression. I want to try, after practicing MBCT, if we see changes in these networks, especially in the tasks that specifically involve them -Gaelle Desbordes-