Contribution of Rumination, Mindfulness, Thought Suppression and Metacognitive Beliefs in Depression

Abstract

Previous studies on the role of cognitive processes in explaining the origin and development of depression indicated the importance of gaining a clearer view of their relations. This research tried to test the contribution of metacognitive beliefs, rumination, thought suppression and mindfulness, explaining the levels of depression and examining their relationship in clinical and non-clinical group.The clinical group (N=70) included individuals suffering from a depressive disorder and non-clinical (N=70) consisted of people without mental health problems. The results showed that depressed people ruminate more, have more positive beliefs about rumination, lower levels of mindfulness, often suppress thoughts, and have more negative beliefs about the dangers and consequences of rumination than mentally healthy people. In depressed individuals rumination is mediated by negative beliefs about the consequences of rumination, while in mentally healthy people rumination is directly related to the level of depression. Results may represent additional guidance in the psychotherapeutic approach and the treatment of depressive disorders should include treatment of rumination and mindfulness training.