Effects of Mindfulness Practice on Depressive Rumination

The literature about mindfulness meditation and thought process of depressive rumination was reviewed and critically evaluated. The literature indicates that there is a significant decrease in depressive rumination following an 8-week mindfulness-based treatment such as MBCT or MBSR. Research also indicates that depressive rumination is a mediating variable between mindfulness practice and improved psychological functioning. Mindfulness is correlated to lower levels of emotional interference, improved ability to maintain equal attention to all present moment stimuli, and improved ability to "set-shift." Findings also indicate that mindfulness is correlated to decreased neural activity in areas of the brain associated with self-referential processing (medial pre-frontal cortex), decreased neural activity in the amygdala (limbic system), and increased activity in areas of the brain associated with sensory and experiential processing. Findings provide increased understanding about how mindfulness affects the cognitive processes of the mind and neural activity of the brain, in order to relieve psychological distress.