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The Potential Mediating Role of Anxiety Sensitivity in the Impact of Mindfulness Training on Anxiety and Depression Severity and Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Qiang Xie, Ye Guan, Stefan G Hofmann, Ting Jiang, Xing-Hua Liu

Scandinavian Journal of Psychology July 19, 2022 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12860 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized waitlist-controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 69
Population Adults with high psychological distress
Intervention Mindfulness intervention
Duration Eight-week intervention, pre- and post-test assessments
Topics Anxiety Depression Meditation
Key findings Mindfulness training reduced anxiety sensitivity and overall anxiety severity and impairment relative to a waitlist control, with only marginal effects on depression. Reductions in anxiety sensitivity mediated the intervention's effects on both anxiety and depression, suggesting anxiety sensitivity as a potential mechanism of change.

Abstract

The benefits of mindfulness-based interventions to alleviate anxiety and depression have been supported by many studies. Given the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety and depression, the underlying mechanisms need to be explored. Using a randomized waitlist-controlled design, this study investigated whether anxiety sensitivity was a potential mechanism for the impact of mindfulness training on anxiety and depression. Participants with high psychological distress were randomly assigned to an eight-week mindfulness intervention (N = 35) or a wait-list control group (N = 34). Before and after the intervention or corresponding waitlist period, participants completed measures of anxiety and depression severity and impairment and anxiety sensitivity. Separate mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group (intervention vs. control group) X time (pre- vs. post-test) interactions for anxiety sensitivity and overall anxiety severity and impairment and marginally significant interaction for overall depression severity and impairment. Moreover, simple mediation models showed that reductions of anxiety sensitivity from pre- to post-test mediated the impact of mindfulness training on changes in anxiety and depression severity and impairment. The findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity is a potential mechanism underlying the effect of mindfulness training on anxiety and depression, which provides a new perspective for the study of processes of change of mindfulness-based interventions.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
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
Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Hallucinogen-naïve adults reporting regular participation in religious or spiritual... 2006 Double-blind study n = 36
Pilot Study of Psilocybin Treatment for Anxiety in Patients With Advanced-Stage Cancer Adults with advanced-stage cancer and anxiety 2010 Double-blind, placebo-controlled study n = 12

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Anxiety Depression Meditation