The effect of mindfulness group therapy on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms: A randomised controlled trial in primary health care.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The need for psychotherapy in primary health care is on the increase but individual-based treatment is costly. The main aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to compare the effect of mindfulness-based group therapy (MGT) with treatment as usual (TAU), mainly individual-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms in primary care patients diagnosed with depressive, anxiety and/or stress and adjustment disorders. An additional aim was to compare the effect of MGT with TAU on mindful attention awareness.

METHODS:

This 8-week RCT took place in 2012 at 16 primary care centres in southern Sweden. The study population included both men and women, aged 20-64years (n=215). A broad range of psychiatric symptoms were evaluated at baseline and at the 8-week follow-up using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Mindful attention awareness was also evaluated using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS).

RESULTS:

In both groups, the scores decreased significantly for all subscales and indexes in SCL-90, while the MAAS scores increased significantly. There were no significant differences in the change in psychiatric symptoms between the two groups. The mindfulness group had a somewhat larger change in scores than the control group on the MAAS (P=0.06, non-significant).

CONCLUSIONS:

No significant differences between MGT and TAU, mainly individual-based CBT, were found in treatment effect. Both types of therapies could be used in primary care patients with depressive, anxiety and/or stress and adjustment disorders, where MGT has a potential to save limited resources.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01476371.

• Authors: J Sundquist, K Palmér, L M Johansson, K Sundquist
• Journal: European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists (Eur Psychiatry) Vol. 43 Pg. 19-27 (06 2017) ISSN: 1778-3585 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28365464 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Awareness
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mental Disorders (psychology, therapy)
• Middle Aged
• Mindfulness (methods)
• Primary Health Care
• Psychotherapy, Group (methods)
• Sweden
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult