The Role of Anchoring and Distraction in the Effectiveness of Mindfulness on Reducing Emotional Reactivity

NCT ID: NCT06876220

Last Updated: 2025-07-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 42 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-09-01
• Study Completion Date: 2025-02-13

Brief Summary

The current study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) on the use of anchoring and distraction as emotion care/regulation strategies. It is hypothesized that anchoring and distraction are related but different processes, which could be evidenced by fMRI. The investigators further hypothesized that mindfulness training could lead to functional changes in the brain, which could also be evidenced by fMRI.

Detailed Description

To test the hypotheses, the participants will be randomly allocated to either the experimental group or the waitlist control group. Both groups will complete behavioral measures and an fMRI experiment before the experimental group's intervention (T0). The experimental group will receive Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) between T0 and T1, while the waitlist control will receive no treatment during this period. Both groups will complete the behavioral measures and the fMRI experiment again after the experimental group finishes the MBCT-L course (T1).

Conditions

Mental Health Issue; Emotional Adjustment

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

intervention group

Participants will receive an 8-week mindfulness-based group intervention, namely Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

MBCT-L is an 8-week group intervention where participants are guided to practice mindfulness and cognitive exercise. The course covers themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The course will be provided by mindfulness teachers who have completed the training offered by Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF). Throughout the eight weeks, the course guides the participants through various themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The sessions involve guided mindfulness practices, reflection, discussion, inquiry, and weekly home practice. The language of instruction is Cantonese.

waitlist controlled group

Participants in the wait-list control group will receive the same intervention, two months after the experimental group completed the intervention.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L)

MBCT-L is an 8-week group intervention where participants are guided to practice mindfulness and cognitive exercise. The course covers themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The course will be provided by mindfulness teachers who have completed the training offered by Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (OMF). Throughout the eight weeks, the course guides the participants through various themes such as anchoring, acceptance, and decentering. The sessions involve guided mindfulness practices, reflection, discussion, inquiry, and weekly home practice. The language of instruction is Cantonese.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Right-handed
• Currently registered in post-graduated program with professional counselling training

Exclusion Criteria

• History of neurological or other disorders affecting the brain (such as encephalitis, epilepsy, birth defects, or polio)
• Have experienced a concussion, head or brain trauma, seizures, loss of consciousness
• Have been injured in the eye by a metallic foreign body.
• Have been injured by metallic foreign body (e.g. bullet, shrapnel)
• History of sickle cell anemia/kidney disease/diabetes, asthma, or allergies
• Long-term use of medication is required
• Currently pregnant or breast feeding.
• Had the following conditions or implants in their body:

• Surgical clips
• Cardiac pacemaker
• Neurostimulator/internal electrodes
• Insulin pump
• Internal shunt
• Metal screen / suture
• Cochlear implants
• Hearing aid
• Eye implants/eyelid springs
• Orthopaedic devices (e.g. pins, nails, screws)
• Prosthetic heart valve
• Breast tissue expander
• Tattoo or permanent eye-lining
• Body ring
• Patch/Blood Glucose Monitor
• Dentures
• Intrauterine contraceptive device
• Metal blockage in the blood vessel/metal foreign body in the body

• Minimum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Professor Lam Shui-fong

Director

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Shui-fong Lam, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

The University of Hong Kong

Gloria HY Wong

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong

Locations

Jockey Club "Peace and Awareness" Mindfulness Culture in Schools Initiative, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Countries

Hong Kong

Other Identifiers

UHongKong(JC PandA_fMRI)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id