An Open Trial of Telephone-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy for Reducing Depressive Symptoms.
Amanda J Shallcross, Zoe T Duberstein, Sarah H Sperber, Pallavi Visvanathan, Samina Lutfeali, Nathaniel Lu, James Carmody, Tanya M Spruill
Cognitive and Behavioral Practice May 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2020.12.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Patients with mild to moderate depressive symptoms and hypertension (78.6% female, mean age 60.6) |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Duration | 8-week intervention; assessments at baseline and immediately postintervention |
| Measures | Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale (HADS-A) |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Hypertension Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Pilot trial Telephone-delivered |
| Key findings | The abbreviated, telephone-delivered MBCT program was feasible and acceptable in this small sample: 64% attended at least four sessions, satisfaction was high, and no adverse events occurred. Depressive symptom scores decreased by 4.09 points and anxiety scores by 3.18 points postintervention, which the authors describe as preliminary evidence of efficacy. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a promising intervention for reducing depressive symptoms in individuals with comorbid chronic disease, but the program's attendance demands make it inaccessible to many who might benefit. We tested the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of an abbreviated, telephone-delivered adaptation of the in-person mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT-T) program in a sample of patients with depressive symptoms and hypertension. Participants (n = 14; 78.6% female, mean age = 60.6) with mild to moderate depressive symptoms and hypertension participated in the 8-week MBCT-T program. Feasibility was indexed via session attendance and home-based practice completion. Acceptability was indexed via self-reported satisfaction scores. Safety was assessed via reports of symptomatic decline or need for additional mental health treatment. Depressive symptoms (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report [QIDS-SR]) and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety subscale; HADS-A) were assessed at baseline and immediately following the intervention. Sixty-four percent of participants (n = 9) attended ≥4 intervention sessions. Seventy-one percent (n = 6) of participants reported completing all assigned formal home practice and 89.2% (n = 8) reported completing all assigned informal practice. Participants were either very satisfied (75%; n = 6) or mostly satisfied (25%; n = 2) with the intervention. There were no adverse events or additional need for mental health treatment. Depressive symptom scores were 4.09 points lower postintervention (p = .004). Anxiety scores were 3.18 points lower postintervention (p = .039). Results support the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of an abbreviated, telephone-delivered version of MBCT for reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms in individuals with co-occurring chronic disease.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy via e-health on anxiety and depression in adults: A meta-analysis. General Hospital Psychiatry July 24, 2025
- Brief Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Women With Myocardial Infarction: Results of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial. JACC. Advances February 1, 2025
- Treatment for Migraine and Mood (TEAM-M) study: Protocol for a three-arm multi-site randomized controlled feasibility trial comparing an abbreviated version of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy delivered via telephone or videoconferencing to enhanced usual care (Preprint) February 16, 2026
- Evaluating an Abbreviated Version of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Delivered via Telephone or Videoconferencing Compared to Enhanced Usual Care—Treatment for Migraine and Mood (TEAM-M) Study: Protocol for a Three-Arm Multisite Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial JMIR Research Protocols June 12, 2026
- "Coming Correct": Conducting Community Engagement Studios to Adapt Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for the Chronic Pain-Depression Comorbidity Among Older Black Adults. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings June 1, 2026
and 5 more in the library
Cites 20
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- How long does a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress Journal of Clinical Psychology March 23, 2009
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
- The mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy adherence scale: inter‐rater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctiveness Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy March 1, 2002
and 15 more in the library