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The Feasibility of a Mindfulness Intervention for Depression in People with Mild Dementia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Deirdre Noone, Jacob Payne, Josh Stott, Elisa Aguirre, Ms Mina Patel-Palfreman, Charlotte Stoner, Eanna O Hanrachtaigh, Aimee Spector

Clinical Gerontologist 2023 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2022.2094741 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Single-blind, multisite, feasibility randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 20
Population People with mild dementia and depression recruited from memory services
Interventions adapted Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) treatment as usual
Topics Depression Meditation
Keywords Neurological disorders Dementia Psychiatric disorders
Key findings The adapted MBCT intervention was feasible in terms of high attendance and low attrition, but recruitment targets were not met. The MBCT group did not show significant improvements in depression, anxiety, quality of life, or cognition at follow-up compared with treatment as usual. The authors conclude there is inadequate evidence to recommend this intervention for depression in dementia within memory services and that it needs redevelopment and piloting before further randomized testing.

Abstract

This preliminary study aimed to establish the feasibility of running an adapted Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) intervention for people with mild dementia and depression. It also aimed to conduct an exploratory analysis as to whether the MBCT intervention would lead to greater improvements in measures of depression, anxiety, quality of life and cognition, as compared to treatment as usual (TAU). A single-blind, multisite, feasibility randomized controlled trial was used. People with dementia and depression were recruited from participating memory services. Twenty participants were randomized to either an adapted MBCT and TAU group (n = 10) or TAU (n = 10). Measures of depression, anxiety, quality of life (QOL), and cognition were assessed at baseline and follow-up. The intervention was feasible in terms of high attendance and low levels of attrition. It was not judged feasible to recruit enough participants within the recruitment time-frame. The MBCT group did not show significant improvements in depression, anxiety, QOL, and cognition at follow-up, as compared to TAU. There is currently inadequate evidence to recommend this adapted MBCT intervention for people with dementia for the treatment of depression within memory services. The MBCT intervention needs redevelopment and piloting before further testing in an RCT.

Comparable studies

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Study Year Design Participants
A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Subjects with DSM-IV major depression (treatment resistant) 2006 Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study n = 18
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety 2016 Randomized controlled trial n = 51
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression 2016 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial n = 29
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

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