The use of modified Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy programme for family caregivers of people living with dementia: a feasibility study.
D. Cheung, P. Kor, Cindy Jones, N. Davies, W. Moyle, W. Chien, A. Yip, S. Chambers, C. Yu, C. Lai
Asian Nursing Research September 12, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.anr.2020.08.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 57 |
| Population | Family caregivers of people with dementia |
| Intervention | modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction |
| Duration | 16-week intervention with 3-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Both modified MBSR and MBCT reduced stress, depressive symptoms, and subjective burden in family caregivers of people with dementia, with MBCT showing a larger effect on stress reduction. |
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a modified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programme for reducing the stress, depressive symptoms, and subjective burden of family caregivers of people with dementia (PWD).
Methods: A prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial design was adopted. Fifty-seven participants were recruited from the community and randomized into either the modified MBSR group (n = 27) or modified MBCT group (n = 26), receiving seven face-to-face intervention sessions over 16 weeks. Various psychological outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and at the 3-month follow-up (T2).
Results: Both interventions were found to be feasible in view of the high attendance (over 70.0%) and low attrition (3.77%) rates. The mixed ANOVA results showed positive within-group effects on perceived stress (p = .030, Cohen's d = .54), depressive symptoms (p = .002, Cohen's d = .77), and subjective caregiver burden (p < .001, Cohen's d = 1.12) in both interventions across the time points, while the modified MBCT had a larger effect on stress reduction, compared with the modified MBSR (p = .019).
Conclusions: Both the modified MBSR and MBCT are acceptable to family caregivers of PWD. Their preliminary effects were improvements in stress, depressive symptoms, and subjective burden. The modified MBCT may be more suitable for caregivers of PWD than the MBSR. A future clinical trial is needed to confirm their effectiveness in improving the psychological well-being of caregivers of PWD.
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 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 12
- Mindfulness Intervention for Improving Psychological Wellbeing Among Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare 2023
- 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
- Online mindfulness-based stress reduction improves anxiety and depression status and quality of life in caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders. Zhejiang da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences January 31, 2024
- The Effectiveness of a Hybrid Mindfulness-Based Intervention in Reducing Stress Among Informal Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Gerontologist November 23, 2025
- Group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy associated with reduced professional caregiver burden and improved quality of care in dementia: a multi-method study Frontiers in Neurology August 24, 2026
and 7 more in the library
Cites 10
- A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Clinical Trial: The Effect of a Mindfulness Meditation-Based Stress Reduction Program on Mood and Symptoms of Stress in Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine September 1, 2000
- Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica April 28, 2011
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry. FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry January 24, 2018
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction for family carers of people with dementia Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews August 14, 2018
- Feasibility and Acceptability of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Compared with Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction and Treatment as Usual in People with Depression and Cardiovascular Disorders: a Three-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial Mindfulness July 21, 2018
and 5 more in the library