title: A Chinese Chan-based mind-body intervention for patients with depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the recent growing interest and encouraging findings in studies of alternative treatments for depression, the present randomized controlled trial study aimed to compare the effect of a newly developed Chinese Chan-based Dejian Mind-Body Intervention (DMBI) with the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on improving depressive symptoms in patients with depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five participants diagnosed with major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive either 10-session CBT or DMBI, or placed on a waitlist. Pre-post measurements included record of anti-depressants treatment, ratings by psychiatrists who were blinded to the experimental design and self-report on mood measures, and performance in a cognitive test tapping concentration ability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the CBT and DMBI groups demonstrated significantly reduced overall depressive syndrome after intervention at large effect size (0.93-1.10). Furthermore, the DMBI group (p<0.05), but not the CBT or waitlist groups, demonstrated significant reduction in intake of anti-depressants, and significant improvement in specific depression-related symptoms including difficulty in concentration (p=0.002), and problems in gastrointestinal health (p=0.02) and overall sleep quality (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has provided some evidence for the short-term effect of the DMBI on Chinese population. Its long-term effect on a larger sample and on Caucasian population warrants further investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that a Chinese Chan-based Mind-Body intervention has positive effects on improving mood and health conditions of individuals with depression.
authors: Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China. aschan@psy.cuhk.edu.hk
authors: Agnes S
authors: AS
authors: Chan
authors: Queenie Y
authors: QY
authors: Wong
authors: Sophia L
authors: SL
authors: Sze
authors: Patrick P K
authors: PP
authors: Kwong
authors: Yvonne M Y
authors: YM
authors: Han
authors: Mei-Chun
authors: MC
authors: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control