Key result
Mindfulness training reduces respiration pattern variability versus progressive muscle relaxation in remitted depression.
Why the study?
To investigate whether mindfulness-based training in emotionally challenged remitted depressed participants reduces default mode network connectivity and respiration pattern variability, and whether respiration pattern variability interacts with anxiety levels.
Does mindfulness-based attention training reduce default mode network connectivity and respiration pattern variability in participants with remitted recurrent depression?
RCT (n=49)
1:1 by number list
No
Does mindfulness-based attention training reduce default mode network connectivity and respiration pattern variability in participants with remitted recurrent depression?
Effect estimate: F=11.64
p-value: p=0.001
Mindfulness-based attention training with a breath focus can reduce respiration pattern variability during a stress challenge in individuals with remitted depression, which may correlate with improved anxiety.
Supports breath-focused training for anxiety-related physiology in remitted depression; extends RCT evidence on mindfulness mechanisms beyond neural connectivity.
BACKGROUND: Depression is related to default mode network (DMN) connectivity and higher respiration pattern variability (RPV). In addition, DMN connectivity and RPV are interrelated and predict a poorer clinical course of depression. The association of RPV and depression might further be boosted by anxiety levels. Aim of the present study was to investigate whether a mindfulness-based training in emotionally challenged remitted depressed participants (rMDD) leads to reduced DMN connectivity and lower RPV, and if RPV interacts with anxiety levels. METHODS: To challenge participants, sad mood was induced with keywords of personal negative life events in 49 rMDD during fMRI before and after a 4-week mindfulness-based attention training (MBAT) or progressive muscle relaxation. Respiration was measured by means of a built-in respiration belt. RESULTS: After both trainings, rMDD showed no significant changes in DMN connectivity. However, MBAT was effective in reducing the RPV which was related to lower anxiety levels especially in high anxious individuals. CONCLUSIONS: RPV can be influenced by training which may hint to an underlying biological pathway of training effects. Importantly, these effects seem to be associated with anxiety levels. Therefore, respiration focused training might be an important tool assisting the treatment of depression and anxiety.
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Zamoscik et al. (2020) conducted an RCT in Remitted recurrent depression (n=49). Mindfulness-based attention training vs. Progressive muscle relaxation was evaluated on Expiratory pause duration (PD) variance (Respiration Pattern Variability) (F=11.64, p=0.001). Mindfulness-based attention training significantly reduced respiration pattern variability compared to progressive muscle relaxation (p=0.001) in participants with remitted recurrent depression.
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