Exploring Body Scan Effects Version 1 (15.09.2025)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploratory mechanistic study of the effects of a body scan meditation in adults presenting with mild to moderate depression
IRAS ID
361989
Contact name
Thorsten Barnhofer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 1 months, 11 days
Research summary
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and other mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. However, not all patients respond to these complex interventions, and it is important therefore to better understand how and why their different ingredients work. A central applied ingredient in the early stage of MBIs is the body scan meditation, a practice that is assumed to be foundational to the effects of MBIs. However, there is currently little research that has directly investigated whether its effects map onto its purported theoretical role.
This exploratory mechanism study will address this gap by exploring mechanisms engagement and broader effects on symptoms following a short-term online body scan intervention in a sample of 24 people with mild to moderate depression. The study will assess process variables assumed to be involved in purported activating (interoceptive awareness and rumination) and downstream mechanisms (sleep) as well as symptoms before and after the intervention. Potential adverse effects will be assessed by routine outcome monitoring and open-ended questions will offer additional qualitative insights. Following the intervention, a subsample of participants will take part in micro-phenomenological interviews to explore the fine-grained, lived experience of engaging in body scan meditation.
Quantitative analyses will focus on estimating direction, magnitude and variability of potential effects and results will be integrated with qualitative analyses of information from open questions in mechanistic mapping exercises. This mixed-methods approach will contribute to a deeper understanding of both the clinical outcomes and the experiential mechanisms associated with body scan meditation in individuals with depression and provide a potential step towards individualisation of MBIs.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
25/WS/0160
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion