Table 1 Major learning objectives of MBCT and course contents

Becoming familiar with some characteristics of the mind

introducing “the autopilot” as a symbol for a state of mindlessness

introducing “the spectacles of OCD” as a symbol for selective information processing and cognitive distortion

Exploring new ways of refocusing attention and challenging dysfunctional meta-cognitive beliefs

the “body scan”, a 45-minute mindfulness exercise teaching participants to attentively and non-judgmentally become aware of their body and body sensations

yoga exercises

dealing with arising thoughts and feelings during sitting meditation exercises

the three-minute-breathing-space, a short exercise in which patients are invited to focus their attention on their breathing and present momentary experiences, shifting from a “doing-mode” to a “being-mode” of mind

discussing the cognitive model by Salkovskis, emphasizing the impact of the subjective appraisal of thoughts

diary of positive and negative events

discussing neurobiological correlates of OCD to encourage disidentification with obsessive thoughts and impulses

Freeing oneself from dysfunctional habits and being kind with oneself

identifying individual OCD triggers

encouraging participants to perform the three-minute-breathing-space whenever they notice obsessive thoughts and impulses

sharing poems, short stories and metaphors in order to invite participants to experience thoughts as passing events of the mind rather than reflections of reality

Relapse prevention

establishing individual schemes for dealing with difficult situations

setting objectives for goal-oriented behavior

integrating pleasant activities into everyday lives