The effect of an integrated application‐supported mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy programme on depression among adolescents with non‐suicidal self‐injury: A randomized controlled trial
Russunan Jantarapakdee, Ratchaneekorn Upasen, Penpaktr Uthis, Jojo Yan Yan Kwok
British Journal of Clinical Psychology October 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.70101 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Open-label, two-arm randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 96 |
| Population | Adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in two public secondary schools in Thailand |
| Duration | Assessed at baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Depressive symptoms decreased more in the app-supported MBCT group than in usual care over baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up, with a significant time-by-group interaction and lower overall depressive symptom scores in the intervention group. The authors conclude the programme effectively reduced depressive symptoms; effects on NSSI were not assessed. |
Abstract
Abstract Objectives This study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated, application‐supported mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) programme in reducing depressive symptoms among adolescents with non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI).
Methods: An open‐label, two‐arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in two public secondary schools in Thailand. The schools were randomly allocated to the intervention or usual‐care control condition, with eligible participants pair‐matched by sex and baseline depressive symptom severity ( n = 48 persons/group). The blended school‐based and application‐supported MBCT programme was evaluated at baseline, 2 weeks post‐intervention, and 1‐month follow‐up using repeated‐measures ANOVA.
Results: There was a significant time × group interaction, F (1.73, 162.17) = 62.59, p < .001, ηp 2 = .40, indicating differential changes in depressive symptoms between groups. Significant main effects of time, F (1.73, 162.17) = 203.59, p < .001, ηp 2 = .68 and group, F (1, 94) = 15.74, p < .001, ηp 2 = .14, were also observed, with lower depressive symptom scores overall in the intervention group.
Conclusions: The integrated application‐supported MBCT programme effectively reduced depressive symptoms among adolescents with NSSI. NSSI was used to define the target population and was not a treatment outcome; therefore, effects on NSSI cannot be interpreted.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.