THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MINDFULNESS–BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY ON REDOUCING SOCIAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN ADOLESCENCES SUFFERING COMORBIDITY OF SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER AND DEPRESSIONTO 60 DAY FOLLOW UP

The aim of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy on reducing social anxiety and depression in adolescents suffering comorbidity
social anxiety and depression to 60 day follow up.
Materials & Methods: The present experimental study included pre-test, post-test and follow-up with
the control group design. Statistical population of this study contained all female students of 1st and 2nd
high school grades suffering comorbidity social anxiety and depression, of Khorramabad city in 2015-
16. Screening was conducted and 437 participants with the age range of 14-17 completed the social
anxiety and depression questionnaires. There were 30 individuals suffering social anxiety and high
depression who were randomly divided into two experimentation and control groups. Experimentation
group was imposed to training the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) during 8 sessions; each
session lasted for 2 hours that is one session in a week lasting for two months. After completing the
sessions and two months after training, both group responded the social anxiety and depression
questionnaires. Analysis of the data was done using SPSS; and descriptive and inferential tests such as
covariance analysis was conducted.
Results: Experimental group showed significant decrease in social anxiety and depression after being
trained (p<0/001). Meanwhile, findings were also preserved in the follow-up phase.
Conclusion: The current observations confirmed the effectiveness of MBCT in reduction of the level
of social anxiety and depression in adolescences suffering comorbidity of social anxiety disorder and
depression