Evaluation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Reduce Psychological Distress and to Promote Well-Being
Elizabeth McCay, Rachael Frankford, Heather J. Beanlands, Souraya Sidani, Enza Gucciardi, Rebecca Blidner, Audrey Danaher, Celina Carter, Andria Aiello
Sage Open January 26, 2017 DOI: 10.1177/2158244016669547 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-posttest pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 42 |
| Population | Individuals living with a chronic illness and/or other health challenges receiving care in a Community and Family Medicine department and a Women's Health Centre in an urban downtown hospital |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 4-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | An 8-week MBCT group intervention led to statistically significant improvements in psychological distress, self-esteem, resilience, and well-being, with large effect sizes for depression, affect balance, and stress, sustained at 4 weeks posttreatment. |
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group intervention to reduce psychological distress as well as to strengthen self-esteem, resilience, and general well-being for individuals living with a chronic illness and/or other health challenges. This pilot study employed a pre–posttest design to evaluate the outcome of the intervention for individuals receiving care in a Community and Family Medicine department and a Women’s Health Centre located in an urban downtown hospital. A total of 42 patients were enrolled in the study and 35 participants completed the intervention. Thirty-five of 42 enrolled participants completed the intervention. Twenty-eight participants completed the pretest and posttest assessments, which demonstrated statistically significant improvement on most outcome measures, including the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression Rating Scale (CES-D), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), Affect Balance Scale (ABS), the Resilience Scale (RS), and the Five-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Large effect sizes were observed for the CES-D, the ABS, and the DASS Stress subscale. Observed improvements were sustained at 4 weeks posttreatment. Results are consistent with studies indicating that MBCT offers promise in alleviating psychological distress for those who are seeking care in primary health care settings. Continued focus on how to best implement MBCT in primary health care, particularly for those with comorbid physical and mental health conditions, supports the World Health Organization’s recommendation to integrate evidence-based mental health care within primary health care to promote equitable access to care for those most in need.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Occupational Therapist-Led Mindfulness Training Program for Older Adults Living with Early Cognitive Decline in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports 2023
- A systematic review of the barriers and facilitators to adherence to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for those with chronic conditions. British Journal of Health Psychology October 31, 2022
- Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Depressive Symptoms Reduction among Depressed Patients in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Issues in Mental Health Nursing July 2021
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy among depressed individuals with disabilities in Nigeria: A randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry Research February 2021
- Effect of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Symptoms of Depression: A Systematic Review STRADA Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan November 1, 2020
and 2 more in the library
Cites 19
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care BMC Psychiatry April 7, 2006
and 14 more in the library