Effect of the Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Anxiety and Depression Status of COVID-19 Patients Treated in Fangcang Hospitals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Haowei Li, Hao Chen, Zifeng Ye, Xuehang Li, Lei Yang, Shengshu Wang, Shanshan Yang, Shaohua Liu, Shimin Chen, Rongrong Li, Junhan Yang, Huaihao Li, Yinghui Bao, Yueting Shi, Jianhua Wang, Yao He, Miao Liu
Psychology Research and Behavior Management 2023 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s414553 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 58 |
| Population | Asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 patients treated in Sanya Fangcang hospital under quarantine restrictions |
| Intervention | Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 5 days (daily intervention), pre- and post-test assessment |
| Measures | Self-rating Anxiety Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Covid-19 patients Online mindfulness Psychological intervention |
| Key findings | Online MBSR reduced anxiety and depression scores significantly more than control (η2 = 0.175 and η2 = 0.215, p < 0.001), and the proportion of patients with severe anxiety and depression in the MBSR group fell to 0%, lower than the control group, with more mild cases than controls. The authors conclude the intervention appears effective for alleviating anxiety and depression in quarantined COVID-19 patients. |
Abstract
As the focal point of epidemic prevention and control, the mental health of COVID-19 patients cannot be ignored. Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) allows for the provision of conveniently accessible, effective and low-cost interventions on a large scale. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of an online MBSR intervention in alleviating anxiety and depression among asymptomatic/mild patients limited by COVID-19-related restrictions. Fifty-eight patients treated in Sanya Fangcang hospital were randomly allocated to either to the experimental group (n = 29) following daily, for 5 days, an online-based mindfulness intervention or to the control group (n = 29). Patients from both groups underwent online questionnaires including assessment of anxiety and depression status at pre- and post-tests using Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale. After the online-based MBSR program, the anxiety and depression scores of the patients in the MBSR group decreased significantly in comparison to the scores of those in the control group (respectively η2 = 0.175, η2 = 0.215, p < 0.001). And the proportion of severe anxiety and depression patients in the MBSR group decreased to 0% which lower than the control group, and the proportion of light anxiety and depression patients was significantly more than that in the control group after the MBSR intervention. The online-based MBSR intervention appears to be an effective way of alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms among COVID-19 patients with associated quarantine in Fangcang hospital. Given the seriousness of mental health threat that could be posed by this ongoing pandemic, our study provides a new idea and method for cost-effective and time-efficient interventions in the future of epidemic prevention and control.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.