Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for Chinese adults with PTSD symptoms: protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Bertha Sze Wing Mak, Dexing Zhang, Candice Ling Yuet Man Powell, Maria Kwan Wa Leung, Herman Hay Ming Lo, Xue Yang, Benjamin Hon Kei Yip, Eric Kam-Pui Lee, Zijun Xu, Samuel Yeung Shan Wong
BMC Psychiatry May 29, 2024 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05840-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 160 |
| Population | Individuals with PTSD symptoms who do not meet full DSM-5 criteria for PTSD |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Seeking Safety |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy PTSD Symptoms Randomized controlled trial Seeking safety |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | The trial aims to test whether MBCT reduces PTSD symptoms compared to Seeking Safety, with primary outcome measured at post-intervention. |
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports mindfulness as a potential psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Individuals with subthreshold PTSD experience significant impairment in their daily life and functioning due to PTSD symptoms, despite not meeting the full diagnostic criteria for PTSD in DSM-5. Mindfulness skills, including non-judgmental acceptance, attentional control and openness to experiences may help alleviate PTSD symptoms by targeting characteristics such as intensified memory processing, dysregulated hyperarousal, avoidance, and thought suppression. This trial aims to test the effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) when compared to an active control. This 1:1 randomised controlled trial will enroll 160 participants with PTSD symptoms in 2 arms (MBCT vs. Seeking Safety), with both interventions consisting of 8 weekly sessions lasting 2 h each week and led by certified instructors. Assessments will be conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and 3 months post-intervention (T2), with the primary outcome being PTSD symptoms measured by the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) at T1. Secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety, attention, experimental avoidance, rumination, mindfulness, and coping skills. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed. Mediation analysis will investigate whether attention, experimental avoidance, and rumination mediate the effect of mindfulness on PTSD symptoms. The proposed study will assess the effectiveness of MBCT in improving PTSD symptoms. The findings are anticipated to have implications for various areas of healthcare and contribute to the enhancement of existing intervention guidelines for PTSD. ChiCTR2200061863.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on PTSD, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 13
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review British Medical Bulletin April 21, 2021
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- The mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy adherence scale: inter‐rater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctiveness Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy March 1, 2002
- Mindfulness: diverse perspectives on its meaning, origins, and multiple applications at the intersection of science and dharma Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
and 8 more in the library