Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in an interdisciplinary rehabilitation setting: effects on depression, anxiety, and hopelessness
I Jónsdottir, Anna Kristín Þorsteinsdóttir, Jóhanna Kr. Steingrímsdóttir, Hlín Kristbergsdóttir
BMC Psychology September 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-026-05651-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 130 |
| Population | Patients who had completed a 6-week interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for depression and/or anxiety disorders |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8-week MBCT course following a 6-week interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme |
| Measures | Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Patients with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II ≥ 20) at the start of MBCT showed significant reductions in depression (ES = 0.73), anxiety (ES = 0.41), and hopelessness (ES = 0.48) after 8 weeks, while those with minimal symptoms (BDI-II ≤ 13) showed a slight increase in depressive symptoms (ES = −0.44) and no significant changes in anxiety or hopelessness. The authors conclude MBCT may provide additional benefit as a follow-up intervention, particularly for patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has strong empirical support for preventing relapse in recurrent depression. This study aimed to evaluate whether adding MBCT as a follow-up intervention after an outpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme benefits individuals with current moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms as well as those with minimal depressive symptoms at the start of MBCT. A total of 130 patients who had completed a 6-week interdisciplinary rehabilitation programme for depression and/or anxiety disorders participated in an 8-week MBCT course. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), anxiety symptoms using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and hopelessness using the Beck Hopelessness Scale. Participants with mild depressive symptoms at baseline were not included in the subgroup analyses. Patients with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II score ≥ 20) at the start of MBCT showed significant reductions in depression (ES = 0.73), anxiety (ES = 0.41), and hopelessness (ES = 0.48) by the end of the 8-week treatment. However, patients with minimal depressive symptoms (BDI-II score ≤ 13) showed a slight increase in depressive symptoms (ES = − 0.44), while changes in anxiety and hopelessness were not statistically significant. MBCT may provide additional benefits as a follow-up intervention after interdisciplinary rehabilitation, particularly for patients with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms at the start of treatment.
In the evidence
This study is part of the evidence base for a synthesis in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.
-
Patients with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms showed significant reductions in anxiety (ES = 0.41) after MBCT, while those with minimal symptoms showed no significant change in anxiety.
Synthesized
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 |