Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for anxiety symptoms in older adults in residential care.
Edward Helmes, Bradley G Ward
Aging & Mental Health March 2017 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1111862 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Older adults living in residential care, average age 83 years, 34 of 52 female |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | Seven-week program |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive-behavioral therapy Group treatment Randomized controlled trial |
| Key findings | In older adults in residential care, a seven-week MBCT program was associated with significant improvements on all anxiety measures in the therapy group, whereas the control group showed no significant changes. The authors present this as one of the first randomized trials of MBCT for anxiety in this population. |
Abstract
Anxiety in older people is under-diagnosed and poorly treated despite significant impairments that arise from anxiety. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been shown to be a promising treatment for anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an MBCT program on anxiety symptoms in older people living in residential care. Fifty-two participants (34 females) were randomly allocated into therapy and control groups using a 2 × 3 mixed design. The average age of participants was 83 years. The group effect showed significant improvements on all measures at the end of the seven-week program in the therapy group, while the control group did not show significant changes. This study represents one of the first studies of the effectiveness of an MBCT program on anxiety symptoms for older people using a randomized controlled trial. The study has implications for future research that include the effectiveness of MBCT for the treatment of anxiety symptoms in older people, the utility of group therapy programs in residential care and the benefits of using specialized instruments for older populations.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 23
- The efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions on mental health among university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Public Health 2023
- Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis January 14, 2019
- The effect of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy program on depression, anxiety, stress, and cognitive flexibility in nursing students: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Professional Nursing 2025
- Mindfulness Interventions in Older Adults for Mental Health and Well-Being: A Meta-Analysis. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences March 12, 2025
- Occupational Therapist-Led Mindfulness Training Program for Older Adults Living with Early Cognitive Decline in Primary Care: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Alzheimer's disease reports 2023
and 18 more in the library
Cites 14
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse Psychotherapy Research March 1, 2003
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