Brief adjunctive mindfulness-based cognitive therapy via Telehealth for anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emily M. O'Bryan, Elizabeth L. Davis, Jessica R Beadel, David F Tolin
Anxiety, Stress, and Coping January 2023 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2022.2117305 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open feasibility trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 23 |
| Population | Patients receiving individual cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety at an outpatient specialty clinic |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | Four 75- to 90-minute sessions |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive–behavioral therapy Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Telehealth Transdiagnostic |
| Key findings | Brief telehealth MBCT added to individual CBT was feasible and acceptable, with good retention, attendance, and home practice compliance. Participants showed improvements in mindfulness and self-compassion and reductions in intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, distress intolerance, emotion dysregulation, and anxiety symptoms from pre- to post-intervention. The authors conclude it shows promise for engaging transdiagnostic treatment targets and reducing anxiety symptoms. |
Abstract
While cognitive-behavioral therapy is a highly efficacious treatment for anxiety, additional research is needed to identify adjunctive interventions that may augment treatment outcome. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted an open feasibility trial of brief (i.e., four 75- to 90-minute sessions) mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for anxiety via telehealth for patients (N = 23) receiving individual CBT at an outpatient specialty clinic. Self-report measures of home practice compliance (weekly), intervention acceptability (post-intervention), mindfulness and self-compassion, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and transdiagnostic processes (pre- and post-intervention) were administered as part of routine clinical practice. Results indicated good retention and attendance rates, few technical difficulties, good home practice compliance, and high levels of perceived importance. Participants indicated that they would highly recommend the group to others and also recommended extending the group beyond four sessions. There were significant improvements in mindfulness and self-compassion and reductions in intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety sensitivity, distress intolerance, emotion dysregulation, and anxiety symptoms from pre- to post-intervention. Brief MBCT as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety via telehealth is feasible and acceptable, and shows promise in terms of engaging treatment targets and transdiagnostic processes and reducing anxiety symptoms.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 14
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression. Industrial Psychiatry Journal October 29, 2024
- The effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on risk and protective factors of depressive relapse – a randomized wait-list controlled trial BMC Psychology June 7, 2020
- Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy in patients with anxiety disorders in secondary‐care settings: A randomized controlled trial Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences November 27, 2019
- An Examination of Mindfulness Skills in terms of Affect Tolerance among Individuals with Elevated Levels of Health Anxiety Anxiety, Stress, and Coping September 11, 2018
- Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a 4-Week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Protocol for Hospital Employees Mindfulness December 1, 2017
and 9 more in the library