The efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a public mental health intervention for adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology: a randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) as a public mental health intervention for adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms in a natural setting.
Results Summary
MBCT significantly reduced depression, anxiety, and experiential avoidance while improving mindfulness and emotional/psychological mental health compared to the control group, with sustained effects at a 3-month follow-up. The MBCT group had a higher likelihood of clinically significant improvement in depressive symptoms.
Population
Adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology recruited from the general population.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Duration of intervention not explicitly stated in the abstract.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | decrease | depression | adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology | Cohen's d = 0.31-0.56 | significant reductions | #1 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | decrease | anxiety | adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology | Cohen's d = 0.31-0.56 | significant reductions | #2 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | decrease | experiential avoidance | adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology | Cohen's d = 0.31-0.56 | significant reductions | #3 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | increase | mindfulness | adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology | Cohen's d = 0.31-0.56 | improvements | #4 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | increase | emotional- and psychological mental health | adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology | Cohen's d = 0.31-0.56 | improvements | #5 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | decrease | depressive symptoms | adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology | odds ratio (OR) 3.026, p<0.01 at post-treatment; NNT = 5.10 | likelihood of a clinically significant change was significantly higher | #6 |
OBJECTIVE: Although there has been growing evidence for the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for different clinical populations, its effectiveness as a public mental health intervention has not been studied. The present study evaluates a community-based MBCT intervention for adults with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology in a large multi-site, pragmatic randomized controlled trial. METHOD: The participants with mild to moderate depressive symptomatology were recruited from the general population and randomized to the MBCT intervention (n = 76) or to a waiting list control group (n = 75). Participants completed measures before and after the intervention. Participants in the experimental condition also completed these measures at a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: In the experimental condition significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and experiential avoidance, and improvements in mindfulness and emotional- and psychological mental health were found, compared to the waiting list (effect sizes Cohen's d = 0.31-0.56). These effects were sustained at the 3-month follow-up. The likelihood of a clinically significant change in depressive symptoms was significantly higher for the MBCT group [odds ratio (OR) 3.026, p<0.01 at post-treatment; NNT = 5.10]. DISCUSSION: MBCT as a public mental health intervention for adults with mild to moderate depressive symptoms seems effective and applicable in a natural setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Nederlands Trial Register NTR2096.