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Group behavioural activation and mindfulness therapy for the well-being of non-clinical adults: a preliminary open trial

Trevor G. Mazzucchelli, Clare Samantha Rees, Robert Thomas Kane

The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist December 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1017/s1754470x09990201 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Pre-post intervention study (single-group, intention-to-treat analysis) Peer reviewed
Sample size 16
Population Non-clinical adults recruited from the community
Interventions Behavioural activation Mindfulness
Duration 4-week behavioural activation component followed by a 3-week mindfulness component, ending with an integrating closure session; follow-up assessment reported
Topics Meditation
Citations 21
Key points A combined behavioural activation and mindfulness group program produced moderate, significant improvements in psychological distress and well-being, with larger effects after the complete intervention. Half of participants reported reliable and clinically significant improvement in time spent feeling happy post-intervention, and a quarter reported improvement at follow-up. The authors propose this approach as a useful framework for future well-being research in non-clinical populations.

Abstract

Abstract Using 16 non-clinical adults from the community, this study examined the effects on well-being of a group intervention consisting of a 4-week behavioural activation component followed by a 3-week mindfulness component, finishing with an integrating closure session. Results from intention-to-treat analyses showed moderate and significant improvements in psychological distress and several indices of well-being after the behavioural activation component. These improvements continued through the mindfulness component of the intervention such that effects were greater after participants had received the complete intervention. Half of the participants reported reliable and clinically significant improvement in the amount of time they felt happy after the intervention and a quarter of participants reported improvement at follow-up. Behavioural activation and mindfulness interventions may provide a useful framework for further research with non-clinical populations who wish to enhance their well-being and learn skills that may protect them against depression and other mental health problems.

Comparable studies

Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients 2003 Pre-post intervention study n = 59
Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample 2010 Pre-post intervention study
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students 2003 Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study n = 302
Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls 2011 Controlled trial with wait-list control group n = 60
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents 2011 Within-group waitlist controlled trial n = 22

Citations in the library

Cites 5

Related reading

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Meditation Depression