The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Executive Functions, Emotional Regulation, and Cognitive Impairment in Depressed Patients

This research aimed to assess the impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on executive functions (residual error), emotional regulation, and cognitive deficits in depressed patients attending counseling centers in Ahvaz. The statistical population included all depressed patients in Ahvaz counseling centers. Thirty eligible patients were initially selected, with 15 randomly assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. The quasi-experimental research method involved a pre-test and post-test with a control group. Data were collected using the Cognitive Impairment Scale (Broadbent), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefsky), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Grant and Berg, 1993), and Working Memory Test (Damin and Carpenter). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was implemented, and data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics through univariate and multivariate covariance analysis. Results from univariate and multivariate analyses of covariance indicated the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on executive functions, emotional regulation, and cognitive impairment in depressed patients. The findings highlight the positive impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in improving executive functions, emotional regulation, and cognitive impairment among depressed patients.