Banca de DEFESA: GEOVAN MENEZES DE SOUSA JÚNIOR

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : GEOVAN MENEZES DE SOUSA JÚNIOR
DATE: 24/02/2025
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Videoconferência
TITLE:

Adjunctive effect of mindfulness in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: a randomised controlled trial

KEY WORDS:

meditation, depression, inflammation, escitalopram

PAGES: 136
BIG AREA: Ciências Humanas
AREA: Psicologia
SUBÁREA: Psicologia Fisiológica
SPECIALTY: Psicobiologia
SUMMARY:

Currently, the usual treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is antidepressant medication. However, several issues surround pharmacotherapy, such as the delayed latency in clinical improvement, adverse effects, and limited efficacy. Considering this, efforts have been directed toward investigating complementary treatments that can enhance the efficacy of pharmacotherapy without increasing its side effects. In this regard, mindfulness has been considered, which uses meditation focused on the sensations of breath and body as its main intervention tool. Therefore, in this doctoral study, we evaluated the adjunctive response of mindfulness in the treatment of MDD through the assessment of clinical and biological responses. We compared the efficacy of escitalopram therapy (Escitalopram Group) with home-based, online, and supervised mindfulness + escitalopram therapy (Mindfulness Group) in students and staff from UFRN with MDD over 12 weeks. The interventions are part of the Coping with Sadness Program, which offers other modalities of complementary therapy, such as exercise and yoga. Psychological and biochemical data were collected at three time points throughout the intervention (before, and at weeks 5 and 12). An association was found between trait mindfulness and lower baseline severity of depression-related symptoms, such as depressive and anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, and sleep quality. The Mindfulness Group outperformed the Escitalopram Group in terms of self-reported depressive symptoms, showing a lower score at the end of treatment, with this reduction predicted by an increase in trait mindfulness. The reduction in depressive symptoms assessed by the psychiatrist was similar for both groups, with remission rates of 43% in the Mindfulness Group and 37% in the Escitalopram Group. In addition, the presence of side effects did not differ between the groups. Finally, an increase in the inflammatory response over the course of treatment was observed in the Escitalopram Group, but not in the Mindfulness Group. These results highlight the utility of mindfulness in changing the individual’s relationship with depressive symptoms through mindfulness training, as well as in preventing the inflammatory response triggered by medication. Therefore, this supports the use of mindfulness as a personalized, low-cost, and flexible complementary therapy, with high potential for applicability in clinical practice.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1718518 - NICOLE LEITE GALVAO COELHO
Interno - 1216466 - JOHN FONTENELE ARAUJO
Externo ao Programa - 1243905 - DRAULIO BARROS DE ARAUJO - UFRNExterno à Instituição - FELIPE BARRETO SCHUCH - UFSM
Externo à Instituição - TIAGO ARRUDA SANCHEZ - UFRJ