Impact of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Intolerance of Uncertainty in Patients with Panic Disorder.
Min Kuk Kim, Kang Soo Lee, Borah Kim, Tai Kiu Choi, Sang-Hyuk Lee
Psychiatry Investigation March 2016 DOI: 10.4306/pi.2016.13.2.196 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 69 |
| Population | Patients with panic disorder |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Measures | Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Self Report (PDSS-SR), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Intolerance of uncertainty Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy |
| Key findings | Intolerance of uncertainty, panic symptom severity, and depressive symptoms all decreased significantly after 8 weeks of MBCT in patients with panic disorder. Pre-treatment intolerance of uncertainty correlated with pre-treatment panic and depressive symptoms, and reductions in intolerance of uncertainty were associated with reductions in panic severity after controlling for depressive symptom change. The authors propose that intolerance of uncertainty may play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of panic disorder. |
Abstract
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a transdiagnostic construct in various anxiety and depressive disorders. However, the relationship between IU and panic symptom severity is not yet fully understood. We examined the relationship between IU, panic, and depressive symptoms during mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in patients with panic disorder. We screened 83 patients with panic disorder and subsequently enrolled 69 of them in the present study. Patients participating in MBCT for panic disorder were evaluated at baseline and at 8 weeks using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), Panic Disorder Severity Scale-Self Report (PDSS-SR), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). There was a significant decrease in scores on the IUS (p<0.001), PDSS (p<0.001), and BDI (p<0.001) following MBCT for panic disorder. Pre-treatment IUS scores significantly correlated with pre-treatment PDSS (p=0.003) and BDI (p=0.003) scores. We also found a significant association between the reduction in IU and PDSS after controlling for the reduction in the BDI score (p<0.001). IU may play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of panic disorder. MBCT is effective in lowering IU in patients with panic disorder.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 10
- Mindfulness based interventions for depression and anxiety in Asian Population: A systematic review Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal June 28, 2018
- The combined role of metacognition and mindfulness in social anxiety symptoms: A path model Psihologija August 29, 2023
- Examining the implementation of a mindfulness-based intervention for anxiety: A mixed-method, single-case study investigation Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi March 10, 2026
- Comparative Analysis of Metacognition and Mindfulness Across Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Healthy Controls. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy September 1, 2026
- An Integrated Therapeutic Application Using Elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy in Treatment of Panic Disorder. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine March 1, 2025
and 5 more in the library
Cites 4
- The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for prevention of relapse in recurrent major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review May 15, 2011
- Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in patients with panic disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders April 3, 2010
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as an adjuvant to pharmacotherapy in patients with panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. Depression and Anxiety 2009
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders July 22, 2007