Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Depressive Symptoms Reduction among Depressed Patients in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Zulkiflu Argungu Musa, Kim Lam Soh, Firdaus Mukhtar, Kwong Yan Soh, Tajudeen Olalekan Oladele, Kim Geok Soh
Issues in Mental Health Nursing July 2021 DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2020.1821139 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 101 |
| Population | Depressed patients in Nigeria |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention, 2-month follow-up (assessments at baseline, 2 and 4 months) |
| Measures | Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | After 8 weeks of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, participants did not have significantly fewer depressive symptoms than the control group, but the MBCT group showed a significant reduction in depressive symptom severity at the 2-month follow-up. The authors state this supports MBCT as a viable treatment for major depressive disorder. |
Abstract
Depression is a common mental health disease with a high risk of relapse in people with a mental health condition. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) showed higher efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms and prevent relapse for depressed patients. The study examined the effectiveness of MBCT versus the control group (CG) for the depression symptom reduction. A controlled trial was used to examine the effectiveness of MBCT or CG on depressive patients in Nigeria. Out of 357 screened subjects, 101 patients were randomized to receive either MBCT (n = 50) or CG (n = 51) and prospectively followed for 2 months. The intervention delivered according to the published manuals, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess MDD severity among the patients. All assessments were conducted at three levels (baseline, 2 and 4 months). At the end of the 8 weeks of MBCT intervention, MBCT participants did not have significantly fewer depressive symptoms compared to those in the CG. However, the MBCT group had a significant depressive symptom reduction after 2 month follow up. The findings are in line with other studies, which show MBCT significantly decreased depression severity and improved treatment response rates after 2 months follow up, confirmed MBCT viability in the management of MDD.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- HIV Patients' Mindfulness Moderates How Death Anxiety and Depression Impact Life Quality. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying December 18, 2024
- Efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in mitigating depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among institutionalized patients with major depressive disorder: findings from a randomized controlled trial. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience June 12, 2026
- Using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to reduce anxiety symptoms among individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder Advances in Dual Diagnosis March 20, 2025
Cites 25
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for preventing relapse in recurrent depression: A randomized dismantling trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology December 3, 2013
and 20 more in the library