Group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy associated with reduced professional caregiver burden and improved quality of care in dementia: a multi-method study
Longyun Chen, Bencheng Wang, Ting Li, Nan Li, Xuanxuan Chen, Fei Liu, Tao� Lv
Frontiers in Neurology August 24, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2026.1880966 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective multi-method study Randomized Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 94 |
| Population | Professional dementia caregivers at a psychiatric hospital in China |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 20-week follow-up |
| Measures | Neuropsychiatric Inventory Caregiver Distress Scale (NPI-D), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | The intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in caregiver burden and perceived stress compared to controls from week 8 through week 20. Patient neuropsychiatric symptoms improved from week 12, independent of antipsychotic adjustments. Qualitative themes included mindful awareness, cognitive reappraisal, self-compassion, and group support. |
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the association between an 8-week group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program and changes in professional dementia caregiver burden, perceived stress, and patient neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Methods: This retrospective multi-method study included 94 professional dementia caregivers at a psychiatric hospital in China (intervention: n = 48; control: n = 46). The intervention group participated in an 8-week group MBCT program, while the control group received routine education. Caregiver burden (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Caregiver Distress Scale [NPI-D]), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10 [PSS-10]), and patient symptoms (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale [BPRS], Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease Rating Scale [BEHAVE-AD], Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI]) were assessed at baseline and five follow-up points over 20 weeks. Semi-structured interviews with 18 intervention participants explored perceived intervention mechanisms. Quantitative data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA; qualitative data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: The intervention group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in caregiver burden (NPI-D: from 32.15 ± 8.53 to 19.90 ± 5.71) and perceived stress (PSS-10: from 23.83 ± 4.23 to 16.82 ± 3.94) compared to the control group from week 8 through week 20 (all p < 0.001). Significant group × time interactions were observed for BPRS ( F = 2.682, p = 0.021), BEHAVE-AD ( F = 2.747, p = 0.018), and NPI severity ( F = 2.353, p = 0.040), with patient improvements emerging at week 12, independent of antipsychotic medication adjustments. Correlation analysis revealed positive associations between caregiver burden reduction and patient symptom improvement ( r = 0.36–0.44, all p < 0.001). Qualitative findings identified five themes: development of mindful awareness, cognitive reappraisal of patient behaviors, cultivation of self-compassion, value of group support, and barriers and facilitators to sustained practice.
Conclusion: The 8-week group MBCT program was associated with sustained reductions in caregiver burden and perceived stress, accompanied by improvements in patient neuropsychiatric symptoms among professional dementia caregivers. The group format provided additional perceived benefits through peer support and experience normalization. These findings support further investigation of group-based mindfulness interventions within professional dementia care settings using randomized controlled designs.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Mindfulness-based therapy versus cognitive behavioral therapy for people with anxiety symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of random controlled trials Annals of Palliative Medicine July 1, 2021
- How to create a mindful community of practice: exploring the social functions of group-based mindfulness practices facilitated via Zoom during COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology 2025
- The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on caregiver burden, quality of life and psychological distress in caregivers of adults with chronic diseases: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing October 1, 2024
- Effectiveness of a Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention for University Students. Mindfulness 2023
- Effects of a Modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Gerontologist August 1, 2021
and 2 more in the library