Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in patients with anxiety disorders in secondary-care settings: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim: The primary objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in secondary-care settings where the vast majority of the patients have already undergone pharmacotherapy but have not remitted.

Methods: Eligible participants were aged between 20 and 75 years and met the criteria for panic disorder/agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder specified in the DSM-IV. They were randomly assigned to either the MBCT group (n = 20) or the wait-list control group (n = 20). The primary outcome was the difference in mean change scores between pre- and post-intervention assessments on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The outcome was analyzed using an intent-to-treat approach and a mixed-effect model repeated measurement.

Results: We observed significant differences in mean change scores for the STAI State Anxiety subscale (difference, -10.1; 95% confidence interval, -16.9 to -3.2; P < 0.005) and STAI Trait Anxiety subscale (difference, -11.7; 95% confidence interval, -17.0 to -6.4; P < 0.001) between the MBCT and control groups.

Conclusion: MBCT is effective in patients with anxiety disorders in secondary-care settings where the vast majority of patients are treatment-resistant to pharmacotherapy.

Keywords: anxiety disorders; cognitive behavioral therapy; mindfulness; randomized controlled trial; secondary care.