Effects of a Modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Patrick Pui Kin Kor, Justina Y W Liu, Wai Tong Chien
The Gerontologist August 1, 2021 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaa125 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 113 |
| Population | Family caregivers of people with dementia |
| Interventions | telephone follow-up brief education on dementia care and usual care |
| Duration | 7-session program over 10 weeks; 6-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Dementia Quality of life Caregivers Cognitive behavioral therapy Informal caregiving Psychotherapy Caregiver stress |
| Registration | NCT03354819 |
| Key findings | A modified 7-session MBCT program reduced caregiving stress and improved depression, anxiety, and BPSD-related distress in family caregivers of people with dementia compared with brief education plus usual care, with benefits maintained at 6 months; mental health-related quality of life improved at 6 months and care recipients' behavioral symptoms improved post-intervention. Greater increases in caregiver mindfulness correlated with better psychological outcomes. |
Abstract
Background and
Objectives: Family caregivers of people with dementia (PWD) experience high levels of stress resulting from caregiving. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a modified of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for dementia caregiving. Research design and
Methods: 113 family caregivers of PWD were randomized to either the intervention group, receiving the 7-session modified MBCT for a period of 10 weeks with telephone follow-up or the control group, receiving the brief education on dementia care and usual care. The caregiving stress (primary outcome) and various psychological outcomes of caregivers and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in the care recipients were assessed and compared at baseline (T0), postintervention (T1), and at the 6-month follow-up (T2).
Results: At both T1 and T2, the intervention group had a statistically greater improvement in stress (p = .02 and .03), depression (p = .001 and .04), anxiety (p = .007 and .03), and BPSD-related caregivers' distress (p = .003 and p = .04). A significant greater improvement was also demonstrated in mental health-related quality of life at T2 (p = .001) and BPSD of the care recipients at T1 (p = .04). The increased caregivers' level of mindfulness was significantly correlated with the improvement of various psychological outcomes at T1 and T2 with a correlation coefficient -0.64 to 0.43. Discussion and
Implications: The modified MBCT enhanced the level of mindfulness in the caregivers and was effective to reduce the caregivers' stress and promote their psychological well-being during a 6-month follow-up. Future research is recommended to further examine its effects on the varieties of psychological and behavioral outcomes of both caregivers and care recipients and their dyadic relationships, as well as explore its mechanism of action in facilitating dementia caregiving. Clinical trials registration number: NCT03354819.
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 18
- A meta-analysis of mindfulness-based interventions for improving mental health and burden among caregivers of persons living with dementia. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing April 1, 2024
- Effect of a single-session mindfulness-based intervention for reducing stress in family caregivers of people with dementia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology October 21, 2024
- The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on mental health outcomes and wellbeing of informal caregivers of people with mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing August 1, 2024
- Mindfulness-Based Programmes for Work Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Stress and Health December 1, 2025
- Effects of a closed-loop mindfulness-based program for reducing stress in family caregivers of people with dementia: a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychology July 1, 2025
and 13 more in the library
Cites 16
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- An Exploration of Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice and Associations with Wellbeing Mindfulness May 21, 2018
- The secret ingredient in mindfulness interventions? A case for practice quality over quantity. Journal of Counseling Psychology 2014
and 11 more in the library