A protocol for a randomized controlled trial will test whether a brief mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) of four sessions helps adults with bipolar disorder improve personal recovery—encompassing hope, identity, and life meaning—more than a waiting list control. The study hypothesizes that benefits will be mediated by better emotion awareness, emotion regulation, and illness acceptance, and that the stage of bipolar disorder will moderate effects: early-stage participants may gain more in emotion awareness and regulation, while late-stage participants may benefit more in illness acceptance. One hundred fifty-four adults will be recruited from hospitals and community settings, with assessments at baseline, after intervention, and at six-month follow-up, plus a qualitative Photovoice component.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is being tested against an active control (Seeking Safety) for people with PTSD symptoms who do not meet full diagnostic criteria. The trial randomly assigns 160 participants to either MBCT or Seeking Safety, each delivered in eight weekly two-hour sessions. PTSD symptoms are measured at baseline, after treatment, and three months later using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5. Secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety, attention, avoidance, rumination, mindfulness, and coping skills. The study also examines whether attention, avoidance, and rumination explain how mindfulness affects PTSD symptoms. Results are expected to inform healthcare guidelines for PTSD.
Loneliness is common among Chinese older adults. A randomized controlled trial compared an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention for older adults (MBOA) with a social contact control (SCC) in 245 community-dwelling lonely adults aged 60 or older in Hong Kong. At 12 months, there was no significant difference in loneliness reduction between the two groups, though both improved (within-group effect size: MBOA -0.58, SCC -0.31). MBOA participants showed reduced depressive symptoms and a trend toward less anxiety at 6 months compared with SCC. The findings suggest MBOA is not superior to social contact for loneliness but may benefit psychological symptoms.