GROUP MINDFULNESS MEDITATION BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY INTERVENTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF LATE-LIFE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY SYMPTOMS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Introduction: Approximately 10-20% of older adults treated in primary care settings suffer from symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. As our population ages, the number of older adults in primary care increases, and the urgent need to find cost-effective and efficient alternative therapies become crucial. The present RCT study aim was to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), adapted to older adults with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

Methods: 61 participants were randomized to either MBCT treatment or TAU (treatment as usual) control groups. We examined as our primary outcome changes in depression scores (using PHQ-9 scale) between baseline and 8-weeks follow up. The secondary outcomes was changes in anxiety scores (using GAD-7). Exploratory outcomes quantified changes in the quality of life (EuroQol), the quality of sleep (AIS), and the mindfulness (CAMS-R).

Results: In this study, 53 participants completed pre and post questionnaires at baseline and 8-week follow-up. For completers in the intervention group, results showed a significantly decreased in the depression and/or anxiety symptoms, an increased in quality of life and in mindfulness after the intervention. There were not significant changes observed for quality of sleep and quality of life, compared to participants' scores in the intervention group.

Conclusions: In our study of older adults in primary care suffering from depression and/or anxiety symptoms, MBCT reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and increased quality of life and mindfulness. Future research could examine longer-term effects of MBCT in this population, using an active control group, as well as assessments of cognition and neural functioning. This research was funded by N/A.