Efficacy comparison of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and routine support on anxiety and sleep quality in peritoneal dialysis patients

In patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program was associated with greater improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and quality of life compared with routine psychological support. At both treatment end and 3-month follow-up, the mindfulness group showed significantly reduced anxiety symptoms, lower new-onset anxiety, and better sleep quality, including improved sleep onset latency, total sleep time, fewer sleep disorders, and less daytime dysfunction. Depressive symptoms and both mental and physical quality of life also improved more with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy than with routine support.

Study at a glance

Abstract

BACKGROUND Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) frequently experience anxiety and sleep disturbances.However, the comparative efficacy of psychological interventions on these symptoms remains unclear.AIM To compare the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and routine psychological support (PS) on anxiety symptoms and sleep quality in patients undergoing PD.METHODS This retrospective cohort study included patients receiving PD from June 2022 to June 2025.The patients were divided into the MBCT (8-week structured program) and PS (routine support) groups.Assessments were conducted at baseline, treatment end, and 3 months postbaseline by using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. RESULTSCompared with PS, MBCT was associated with significantly greater improvements in mindfulness (P < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms at treatment end and follow-up (both P < 0.001) and lower new-onset anxiety (P = 0.016).Sleep quality in the MBCT group at both time points improved more (P = 0.003 and P = 0.007) than that in the PS group.This change was accompanied with improved sleep onset latency (P = 0.001), total sleep time (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P = 0.002), and daytime dysfunction (P = 0.004).Compared with PS, MBCT showed superior outcomes for depressive symptoms (P = 0.021) and mental and physical quality of life (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001). / 27 CONCLUSIONIn patients undergoing PD, MBCT is associated with superior improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and quality of life compared with routine PS.