Effects of Buspirone Combined with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Emotional Improvement, Sleep Quality, and Serum Cortisol Level in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Yimeng Ma, Zhiguo Ge, Xinyan Wu
Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology November 13, 2025 DOI: 10.5152/pcp.2025.251242 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Retrospective cohort Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 100 |
| Population | Patients with generalized anxiety disorder |
| Interventions | Buspirone Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Measures | Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety (HADS-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), morning serum cortisol |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Key findings | Adding MBCT to buspirone was associated with faster and greater reductions in anxiety symptoms, sleep disturbance, and morning cortisol than buspirone alone, with differences emerging by week 1 and persisting through week 8. The authors conclude that prospective randomized trials are warranted. |
Abstract
Background: Buspirone shows a certain efficacy in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but its combination therapy with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) remains unclear. To compare buspirone + MBCT versus buspirone alone for GAD in a retrospective cohort.
Methods: According to the treatment regimens, patients were assigned to the experimental group (n = 50) to receive 120 minutes of MBCT sessions per week plus buspirone, or the control group (n = 50) to receive buspirone only. Comprehensive evaluations were conducted at 5 time points (baseline (Week 0, W0), W1, W2, W4, and W8), including clinician-rated measures (Hamilton Anxiety Scale [HAMA]), self-reported symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - Anxiety [HADS-A]), sleep parameters (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] and Athens Insomnia Scale [AIS]), and morning serum cortisol levels (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; μg/mL). Group-by-time effects were modeled with repeated-measures mixed models; 2-sided α = 0.05.
Results: The combination therapy demonstrated superior outcomes across all measures from W1 onward (all P < .05). By W8, the experimental group showed significantly greater reductions in HAMA (6.1 ± 1.5 vs. 10.1 ± 1.8, P < .001), HADS-A (4.2 ± 1.6 vs. 5.6 ± 1.8, P < .001), PSQI (5.1 ± 2.0 vs. 7.2 ± 2.2, P < .001), and AIS (2.6 ± 1.5 vs. 3.9 ± 1.6, P < .001). Cortisol levels decreased more substantially in the combination group (209.8 ± 33.1 μg/dL vs. 264.0 ± 48.5 μg/dL, P < .001). Treatment effects emerged rapidly, with significant differences in HAMA (P < .001) and cortisol (P < .001) evident by W1. Adverse events were mild and comparable.
Conclusion: Adding MBCT to buspirone was associated with faster and greater clinical and biomarker improvements; prospective randomized trials are warranted.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |