Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy versus psychoeducational intervention in bipolar outpatients: Results from a randomized controlled trial.
Consuelo de Dios, Diego Carracedo-Sanchidrian, Carmen Bayón, Beatriz Rodriguez-Vega, Maria-Fe Bravo-Ortiz, Ana Mª González-Pinto, Guillermo Lahera
Spanish journal of psychiatry and mental health 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpsm.2021.08.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 84 |
| Population | Outpatients with bipolar disorder and subthreshold depressive symptoms |
| Interventions | Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) psychoeducation |
| Duration | 8-week intervention with 6-month follow-up |
| Measures | Hamilton-D, anxiety symptoms, hypo/mania symptoms, functional improvement, relapses |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Bipolar disorder Psicoeducación Psychoeducation Psychological treatment Subsyndromal symptoms Síntomas subsindrómicos Trastorno bipolar Tratamiento psicológico |
| Key findings | Adjunctive MBCT did not outperform adjunctive psychoeducation or treatment as usual for subsyndromal depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder outpatients. Depressive symptoms improved in all three arms from baseline to 8 weeks and 6 months, but no significant between-group differences were found at 6 months, and no differences emerged for anxiety, hypo/mania, relapses, or functioning. |
Abstract
Few controlled trials have assessed the impact of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on symptoms and functioning in bipolar disorder (BD). This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MBCT adjunctive group treatment. Randomized, prospective, multicenter, single-blinded trial that included BP-outpatients with subthreshold depressive symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to three arms: treatment as usual (TAU); TAU plus psychoeducation; and TAU plus MBCT. Primary outcome was change in Hamilton-D score; secondary endpoints were change in anxiety, hypo/mania symptoms and functional improvement. Patients were assessed at baseline (V1), 8 weeks (V2) and 6 months (V3). Main hypothesis was that adjunctive MBCT would improve depressive symptoms more than psychoeducation. Eighty-four participants were recruited (MBCT=40, Psychoeducation=34, TAU=10). Depressive symptoms improved in the three arms between V1 and V2 (p<0.0001), and between V1 and V3 (p<0.0001), and did not change between V2 and V3. At V3 no significant differences between groups were found. There were no significant differences in other measures either. In our BD population we did not find superiority of adjunctive MBCT over adjunctive Psychoeducation or TAU on subsyndromal depressive symptoms; neither on anxiety, hypo/mania, relapses, or functioning.
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 3
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy v. treatment as usual in people with bipolar disorder: A multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Psychological Medicine October 1, 2023
- Trial-based economic evaluation of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared to treatment as usual for bipolar disorder. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research September 12, 2023
- Effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy vs. psychoeducational intervention on plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor and cognitive function in bipolar patients: a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023
Cites 19
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy for Nonremitted Patients with Bipolar Disorder CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics April 2, 2011
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Bipolar Disorder Journal of Psychiatric Practice November 1, 2011
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Industrial Psychiatry Journal October 29, 2024
and 14 more in the library