Mindfulness-Based Program for Anxiety and Depression Treatment in Healthcare Professionals: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Mirian Santamaría-Peláez, Jerónimo Javier González-Bernal, Juan Carlos Verdes-Montenegro-Atalaya, Luis Ángel Pérula-de Torres, Ana Roldán-Villalobos, Esperanza Romero-Rodríguez, Nur Hachem Salas, Rosa Magallón-botaya, Teresa de Jesús González-Navarro, Raquel Arias-Vega, Francisco Javier Valverde, María Jiménez-Barrios, Luis Alberto Mínguez, Benito León-Del-Barco, Raúl Soto-Cámara, Josefa González-Santos
Journal of Clinical Medicine December 17, 2021 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10245941 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 112 |
| Population | Mentors and resident specialists from Family and Community Medicine and Nurses (FCMN) in six teaching units of the Spanish National Health System |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | Pre-test, post-test, and 3-month follow-up |
| Measures | Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Primary care Mentors Resident intern specialists |
| Key findings | The standard MBSR program significantly reduced anxiety and depression, with effects maintained at three months, while the abbreviated program showed no significant effect. The authors attribute the benefits to the standard training and call for more research on abbreviated versions. |
Abstract
In primary health care, the work environment can cause high levels of anxiety and depression, triggering relevant expert and individual change. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs reduce signs of anxiety and depression. The purpose of this sub-analysis of the total project, was to equate the effectiveness of the standard MBSR curriculum with the abbreviated version in minimizing anxiety and depression. This randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled 112 mentors and resident specialists from Family and Community Medicine and Nurses (FCMN), distributed across six teaching units (TU) of the Spanish National Health System (SNHS). Experimental group participants received a MBRS training (abbreviated/standard). Depression and anxiety levels were measured with the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) at three different time periods during the analysis: before (pre-test) and after (post-test) participation, as well as 3 months after the completion of intervention. Taking into account the pre-test scores as the covariate, an adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed significant depletion in anxiety and depression in general (F (2.91) = 4.488; p = 0.014; η2 = 0.090) and depression in particular (F (2, 91) = 6.653; p = 0.002; η2 = 0.128 at the post-test visit, maintaining their effects for 3 months (F (2.79) = 3.031; p = 0.050; η2 = 0.071-F (2.79) = 2.874; p = 0.049; η2 = 0.068, respectively), which is associated with the use of a standard training program. The abbreviated training program did not have a significant effect on the level of anxiety and depression. The standard MBSR training program had a positive effect on anxiety and depression and promotes long-lasting effects in tutors and resident practitioners. New research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of abbreviated versions of training programs.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. General Psychiatry 2024
- The Effects of Mindfulness Techniques on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress, with an Emphasis on Gratitude: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Healthcare February 27, 2026
- Effects of Web-Based Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress Among Frontline Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research August 29, 2023
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