The Effects of a Standardized Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and an Additional Mindfulness-Based Training on Interoceptive Abilities in a Depressed Cohort

Abstract

Background: Interoceptive accuracy and sensibility are decreased in depressive samples. However, different studies showed that cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness interventions are promising approaches to improve interoceptive abilities. Based on these findings, the study aims to investigate the pre–post effect of CBT in a depressive sample. Additionally, we examined the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training in the context of CBT. Methods: Sixty depressive patients were investigated over four weeks, with two conditions—CBT vs. CBT + MBSR. Further, the changes in interoceptive abilities (interoceptive accuracy and sensibility) of the depressive patients were compared to baseline data of healthy controls. Results: The depressive patients showed significantly higher levels of depression and lower mindfulness and interoceptive abilities than healthy controls. The depressive sample showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms and increased mindfulness and interoceptive abilities after CBT. Lastly, depressive patients of the CBT + MBSR condition did not differ from those who only received CBT in the levels of depression, mindfulness or interoceptive abilities over the time course. Discussion: This study demonstrates a positive effect of CBT on interoceptive abilities in a depressive sample. It is shown that the depressive sample did not profit from additional mindfulness training. It can be concluded that CBT is an efficient treatment, resulting in increased interoceptive abilities. Unexpectedly, the combination of CBT and MBSR has no additional effect on these changes. Future studies should investigate the effect of MBSR as a stand-alone therapy.

The Effects of a 3-Week Heartbeat Perception Training on Interoceptive Abilities

“…A growing body of studies showed increased interoceptive abilities due to diverse interventions of various lengths, such as self-focused procedures ( Weisz et al, 1988 ; Tsakiris et al, 2011 ; Ainley et al, 2012 ; Ainley and Tsakiris, 2013 ; Pollatos et al, 2016 ), mindfulness-based interventions (e.g., Bornemann et al, 2014 ; Parkin et al, 2014 ; Bornemann and Singer, 2017 ; Fischer et al, 2017 ), floating ( Feinstein et al, 2018 ), power posing ( Weineck et al, 2019 ), or cognitive behavioral therapy in depressive patients ( Karanassios et al, 2021 ). Concerning the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on interoceptive abilities, previous findings are incongruent.…”

Body maps for interoceptive sensibility and ruminations from pitch perception

“…Depression was reported to have a lower interoception, but was positively correlated for the IS questionnaire. (Karanassios et al, 2021). We suggested that individuals with depression exhibited diffused BSM of pitched sound perception in previous study (Daikoku et al, 2023).…”

Mindfulness, Interoception, and the Body

“…Here, the authors found that participants with depression had a significant decrease in depression symptoms, and an increase in trait mindfulness and interoceptive abilities (heartbeat tracking task scores, task-related confidence ratings, and scores on the Body Awareness subscale of the Body Perception Questionnaire), following the four-week CBT programme. Contrary to the authors’ expectations, Karanassios and colleagues [ 26 ] found that CBT with additional mindfulness-based stress reduction training did not have any additional benefits for depressive symptoms, trait mindfulness, nor interoceptive abilities.…”

“…In a different clinical context, Karanassios and colleagues [ 26 ] compared the effects of a standardised cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) against CBT with an additional mindfulness-based stress reduction training programme on interoceptive abilities and depressive symptoms in adults with depression. Here, the authors found that participants with depression had a significant decrease in depression symptoms, and an increase in trait mindfulness and interoceptive abilities (heartbeat tracking task scores, task-related confidence ratings, and scores on the Body Awareness subscale of the Body Perception Questionnaire), following the four-week CBT programme.…”