Efficacy of Spanish or English Language Versions of Mindfulness Meditation on Depression

Efficacy of Spanish or English Language Versions of Mindfulness Meditation on Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Spanish or English Speaking Cohorts

This study explores the differential efficacy of Spanish or English versions of a mindfulness intervention on Depression levels, using a pre test post test design and an active control condition (health education).

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with an experimental condition (MAPs Mindfulness intervention) and an active control group (Health Education), using a pretest and immediate posttest research design. Both conditions are comprised of a 6-week group intervention, which will be administered at the UCLA Westwood Medical Campus. The sample (N=80) will be drawn from a population of adults (18-65 years old), residing within a 10mile radius of the UCLA Westwood Medical Campus. To determine initial eligibility, potential participants will self-select based on perceived high levels of stress. Participants will respond self-report questionnaires to assess for psychological symptoms and will be drawn blood samples (180ml total) to assess levels of pro inflammatory cytokines before and after the interventions. Participants will attend a total of 8 visits.

Inclusion Criteria:

• In order to determine eligibility, interested participants will be phone screened. To qualify for the study, participants have to be fluent in either Spanish or English, validated by self-report at phone screening. Additionally, during the phone screening participants had to complete a 4-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen & Williamson, 1988) and score above the 50th percentile (a score of 9 or higher) in order to be eligible

Exclusion Criteria:

• People not meeting any of the above criteria.