Research Findings

Numerous research studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of CBT, mindfulness techniques, positive psychotherapy, and self-compassion. While you may know intuitively that these approaches work, sometimes reading the hard science can bolster your confidence and pave the way to a more rewarding therapy experience.

[For personal use only: do not copy or reproduce]

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Corsica, J, Hood, M.M., Katterman, S., Kleinman, B., & Ivan, I. (2014). Development of a novel mindfulness and cognitive behavioral intervention for stress-eating: a comparative pilot study. Eating Behavior, 15(4):694-699.

Courbasson, C.M., Nishikawa, Y, & Shapira, L.B. (2011). Mindfulness-action based cognitive behavioral therapy for concurrent binge eating disorder and substance use disorders. Eating Disorders, 19(1), 17-33.

Driessen, E., & Hollon, S.D. (2010). Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: efficacy, moderators and mediators. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 33(3), 537-555.

Evans, S., Ferrando, S., FIndler, M., Stowell, C., Smart, C., & Haglin, D. (2008). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22, 716-721.

Segal, Z.V., Bieling, P., Young, T., MacQueen, G., Cooke, R., Martin, L., Bloch, R., & Levitan, R.D. (2010). Antidepressant monotherapy vs. sequential pharmacotherapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or placebo, for relapse prophylaxis in recurrent depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(10), 1256-1264.

Srisurapanont, M, Sombatmai, S, & Boripuntakul, T. (2007). Brief intervention for students with methamphetamine use disorders: a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal on Addictions, 16, 111-116.

Stice, E, Rohde, P, Seeley, J.R., & Gau, J.M. (2008). Brief cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for high-risk adolescents outperforms two alternative interventions: a randomized efficacy trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(4), 595-606.

Mindfulness

Corsica, J, Hood, M.M., Katterman, S., Kleinman, B., & Ivan, I. (2014). Development of a novel mindfulness and cognitive behavioral intervention for stress-eating: a comparative pilot study. Eating Behavior, 15(4):694-699.

Gotink, R.A., Meijboom, R., Vernooij, M.W., Smits, M., & Hunink, M.G. (2016). 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction induces brain changes similar to traditional long-term meditation practice – a systematic review. Brain Cognition, 108:32-41.

Holzel, B.K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S.M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S.W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191, 36-43.

Lykins, E.L.B. & Baer, R.A. (2009). Psychological functioning in a sample of long-term practitioners of mindfulness meditation. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 23(3), 226-241.

O’Reilly, G.A., Cook, L., Spruijt-Metz, D., & Black, D.S. (2014). Mindfulness-based interventions for obesity-related eating behaviours: a literature review. Obesity Reviews, 15(6):453-61

Ortner, C.N.M., Kilner, S.J., & Zelazo, P.D. (2007). Mindfulness meditation and reduced emotional interference on a cognitive task. Motivation & Emotion, 31, 271-283.

Rogojanski, J., Vettese, L.C., & Antony, M.M. (2011). Coping with cigarette cravings: comparison of suppression versus mindfulness-based strategies. Mindfulness, 2, 14-26.

Schroevers, M.J. & Brandsma, R. (2010). Is learning mindfulness associated with improved affect after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy? British Journal of Psychology, 101, 95-107.

Tapper, K., Shaw, C., Ilsley, J., Hill, A.J., Bond, F.W., & Moore, L. (2009). Exploratory randomised controlled trial of mindfulness-based weight loss intervention for women. Appetite, 52, 396-404.

Whitebird, R.R., Kreitzer, M.J., & O’Connor, P.J. (2009). Mindfulness-based stress reduction and diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum, 22(4), 226-230.

Positive Psychotherapy

Gander, F., Proyer, R.T., & Ruch, W. (2016). Positive psychology interventions addressing pleasure, engagement, meaning, positive relationships, and accomplishment increase well-being and ameliorate depressive symptoms: a randomized, placebo-controlled online study. Frontiers in Psychology, 7:686, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00686. eCollection 2016.

Guo, Y.F., Zhang, X., Plummer, V., Lam, L., Cross, W., & Zhang, J.P. (2016). Positive psychotherapy for depression and self-efficacy in undergraduate nursing students: A randomized, controlled trial. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, doi: 10.1111/inm. 12255 [Epub ahead of print].

Peterson, C., Park, N., Pole, N., D’Andrea, W., & Seligman, M.E. (2008). Strengths of character and posttraumatic growth. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21(2):214-217. doi: 10.1002/jts.20332.

Seligman, M.E., Rashid, R., & Parks, A.C. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 62(8):774-788.

Self-Compassion

Babenko, O., et al (2018). Contributions of psychological needs, self-compassion, leisure-time exercise, and achievement goals to academic engagement and exhaustion of Canadian medical students. J Educ Eval Health Prof, Jan 8. doi: 10.3352/jeehp.2018.15.2 [Epub ahead of print]

Beekman, J.B., et al (2017). Stomaching rejection: Self-compassion and self-esteem moderate the impact of daily social rejection on restrictive eating behaviours among college women. Psychol Health 32(11):1348-1370. 

Chung M.S. (2016). Relation between lack of forgiveness and depression: the moderating effect of self-compassion. Psychological Reports, 2016, pii: 0033294116663520 [Epub ahead of print].

Friis, A.M., Johnson, M.H., Cutfield, R.G., & Consedine, N.S. (2016). Kindness matters: a randomized controlled trial of a mindful self-compassion intervention improves depression, distress, and HbA1c among patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care, pii: dc160416 [Epub ahead of print].

Palmiera, L., et al (2017). The role of self-disgust in eating psychopathology in overweight and obesity: can self-compassion help? J Health Psychol Apr 1:1359105317702212. doi: 10.1177/1359105317702212. [Epub ahead of print]