Synchronous online group MBCT vs guided asynchronous iMBCT in depressed sample: randomized clinical trial with a 3-month follow-up
Jan Wardęszkiewicz, Paweł Holas, Gerhard Andersson
Both synchronous and asynchronous online Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (iMBCT) reduce depressive symptoms in people with mild to moderate depression. In a randomized trial, 170 participants were assigned to a 6-week synchronous iMBCT group, asynchronous iMBCT group, or waitlist control. Both iMBCT formats significantly lowered depression compared to the control, with gains sustained at 3-month follow-up. Mindfulness and cognitive defusion mediated the effect, explaining 52% of post-treatment depression severity. Participants also showed decreased rumination and anxiety, and increased self-compassion and resilience, maintained at follow-up.