Meditation Reduces Symptoms of Depression

In a preliminary study conducted by psychologists at Oxford University, subjects with severe and recurrent depression improved with a combination of meditation and cognitive behavior therapy. The results of a small-scale randomized trial of the approach, called mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), are published in the journal Behaviour Research and Therapy. 28 people currently suffering from depression, having also had previous episodes of depression and thoughts of suicide, were randomly assigned to two groups. One received MBCT in addition to treatment as usual, while the other just received treatment as usual. Treatment with MBCT resulted in reduced symptoms of major depression, while levels of depression remained the same in the control group.

I have used this approach in my practice for many years, combining relaxation and meditation techniques with cognitive behavior therapy.

Perfectionism Associated with Increased Mortality in Older Adults

Perfectionism as a personality trait is strongly associated with mortality in late life. After baseline assessment of health and personality traits as predictors of mortality, 450 participants in a study in The Netherlands were followed over a period of 6.5 years. Findings demonstrated that risk of death was significantly greater for high scorers in perfectionism and neuroticism, compared to low scorers at the time of base line. Conversely, risk of death was significantly lower for high scorers in conscientiousness, extraversion and optimism. This study was reported in the latest issue of the Journal of Health Psychology.

As I have personally observed over the years with so many of my patients, perfectionism leads to the body being in a continual state of tension or hyperarousal, eventually resulting in physical exhaustion. Negative emotional states also result in metabolic changes and can create an inflammatory response.