Effects of Mindfulness Training on Emotion Regulation and Impulsivity

Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau70 enrolled

Overview

Mindfulness training has proven to be a reliable treatment for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).The present randomized-controlled study examines the effects of mindfulness training on emotion regulation and impulsitivy. In addition, fMRI data was collected pre and post intervention. 70 patients with BPD diagnosis were randomized to either mindfulness or interpersonal effectiveness skills training. Assessments were conucted pre-and-post-intervention.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Mindfulness Skills Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills

Interventions

Mindfulness skills were taught over a 10-week period. Mindfulness skills were delivered in a weekly group-format. Participants were instructed to follow mindfulness practice at home. The treatment was focused on enhancing the patient capacity to defuse from cognitive and emotional content.

Interpersonal Effectiveness skills trainingBEHAVIORAL

Interpersonal effectiveness skills were taught over a 10-week period. Skills were delivered in a weekly group-format. The treatment was focused on improving interpersonal effectiveness.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 50 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria: * BPD diagnosis according to two semi -structured interviews: the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II disorders and the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines * Age between 18 and 50 years old * No comorbidities with schizophrenia, drug induced psychosis, organic brain syndrome, substance dependence, bipolar disorder, mental retardation, or major depressive episode in course * Not being participating in any other psychotherapy at the moment of the study. Exclusion criteria: • Having participated of skills training in the past.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)

The DERS is a 28-item-scale that measures difficulties in emotion regulation. Each item has to be rated in a 5-point scale, with higher scores indicating higher difficulties in emotion regulation.

Time frame: 1-past week

Barrat Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11)

The current version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale is composed of 30 items describing common impulsive or non-impulsive (for reverse scored items) behaviors and preferences. Items are scored on a 4-point-scale, with higher scores indicating higher impulsivity.

Time frame: 1-past week

Secondary Outcomes

Borderline Symptoms List (BSL-23)

The BSL-23 assess common borderline symptoms during the past week (higher scores indicating higher borderline features). Items have to be rated on a 5-point-scale.

Time frame: 1-past-week