Mindfulness-based group therapy for inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders – feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a rater-blinded randomized controlled trial
Kerem Böge, Inge Hahne, Niklas Bergmann, Marco Zierhut, T.M.T. Ta, Katja Wingenfeld, Malek Bajbouj, E. Hahn
European Psychiatry November 17, 2023 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2130 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Longitudinal Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | In-patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based group therapy |
| Duration | 4-week intervention, 12-week follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Schizophrenia spectrum disorders Psychotherapy |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based group therapy plus treatment-as-usual significantly improved mindfulness and negative symptoms compared to treatment-as-usual alone. |
Abstract
Introduction: The therapeutic effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) has been shown for various mental disorders. However, for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), only a few trials have been conducted, mostly in outpatient settings.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a four-week mindfulness-based group therapy (MBGT) for in-patients with SSD.
Methods: A pre-registered randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at the in-patient ward for SSD. All measures were employed at baseline, post-intervention (4-weeks), and follow-up (12-weeks). The primary outcome was ‘mindfulness’. Secondary outcomes were rater-blinded positive- and negative symptoms, depression, social functioning, as well as self-rated mindfulness, depression, anxiety, psychological flexibility, quality of life, and medication regime.
Results: N=40 participants were randomized into either four-week treatment-as-usual (TAU; n=19) or MBGT+TAU (n = 21). Protocol adherence was 95.2%, and the retention rate to treatments was 95%. ANCOVA analysis revealed significant improvements in the MBGT+TAU compared to TAU for the primary outcome and negative symptoms. Exploratory analyses showed medium-to-large intervention effects on secondary outcomes mindfulness, positive, negative, and depressive symptoms, psychological flexibility, quality of life, and social functioning for MBGT+TAU and small-to-moderate changes on positive symptoms and social functioning for TAU. No serious adverse effects were reported.
Conclusions: This study supports the feasibility and acceptability of MBGT for in-patients with SSD, including high protocol adherence and retention rates. A proof of concept of the MBIs and corresponding improvements on various clinical and process parameters warrant a fully powered RCT to determine effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and longitudinal outcomes of MBGT for SSD. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |