LAUSR

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is an emerging psychological treatment that might be beneficial for people with bipolar disorder (BD). Neurocognitive studies suggest that MBCT may have important effects on mood regulation and broad attentional and frontal-executive control in BD. In this qualitative study, the process of change of MBCT in people with BD is explored. The current qualitative study was part of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) on (cost-)effectiveness of MBCT for BD. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 participants who participated in an 8-week MBCT. For reasons of triangulation, teachers were interviewed as well. Three themes arose from the data: (1) awareness of thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and behavior and insight into their inter-relationship; (2) behavioral change; and (3) positive consequences following MBCT. A distinction was made between general aspects and aspects related specifically to BD. Themes were divided into subthemes. Process of change took place in a non-linear, iterative fashion. Qualitative data support the notion that several cognitive and behavioral processes in BD could be potential targets for MBCT. We suggest that future mediation, neuroimaging, and cognitive experimental studies should explore MBCT as an adjunctive treatment strategy for BD by investigating possible working mechanisms of MBCT in BD. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03507647. Registered 25th of April 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03507647