A randomized, controlled trial study of the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on depression and physical problems in depressed elderly individuals.
Nima Javadzade, Victoria Omranifard, Fatemeh Zargar, Arash Marzban, Sayed Vahid Esmaeili
Journal of Health Psychology December 21, 2024 DOI: 10.1177/13591053241302472 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Depressed elderly individuals over 60 years old |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Elderly individuals Mindfulness-based stress reduction Physical problems |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | MBSR significantly decreased depression levels in depressed elderly individuals after eight weeks. |
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on depression and physical problems in depressed elderly individuals. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on two groups of 30 depressed elderly individuals over 60 years old using purposive sampling. The GDS and the PE-PSI questionnaires were administered to both groups before and after the intervention. A standardized 8-week MBSR training program was held for the experimental group weekly for 1.5 hours. The results showed that between the beginning and 8 weeks of MBSR therapeutic intervention, the level of depression in the elderly individuals significantly decreased (p 0.05). This study provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of MBSR as a suitable treatment for the elderly individuals, which caregivers and psychologists in nursing homes can use to improve the mental well-being of the elderly individuals.