Mindfulness versus CBT: A Study on Depression and Anxiety Treatment
Group Mindfulness meditation treatment has been found to be as effective as individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patients dealing with depression and anxiety. This conclusion stems from a recent study conducted by Lund University in Sweden and the Skåne region.
This groundbreaking research is the first randomized study to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness treatment in both group and individual cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with depression and anxiety in primary health care settings.
Professor Jan Sundquist led the team of researchers in this study, which took place in 16 primary health care centers in Skåne, a county in South Sweden. The researchers trained two mindfulness instructors from different professional backgrounds in each center over a six-day training period.
In the spring of 2012, patients suffering from depression, anxiety, or severe stress reactions were randomly assigned to either structured group Mindfulness treatment with approximately 10 patients per group or standard treatment, which mainly consisted of individual CBT. Patients also followed a personalized training program and were encouraged to document their exercises in a diary.
The treatment spanned eight weeks, during which General Practitioner and Mindfulness instructor Ola Schenström supervised the Mindfulness training program and the instructor training model.
A total of 215 patients participated in the study. Both the mindfulness treatment group and the regular treatment group reported a decrease in self-reported symptoms of depression and anxiety over the 8-week treatment period. Notably, there was no significant statistical difference between the two treatment methods.
According to Jan Sundquist, “The findings of this study suggest that mindfulness treatment delivered by certified instructors in primary health care settings is just as effective as individual CBT in treating depression and anxiety. This highlights group mindfulness therapy as a viable alternative to individual psychotherapy, especially in primary health care centers that may not offer individual therapy.”
The Center for Primary Health Care Research, a collaborative effort between Lund University and Region Skåne, spearheaded this study on mindfulness-based group therapy for patients with depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders.
Publication:
Mindfulness group therapy in primary care patients with depression, anxiety, and stress and adaptation disorders: a randomized controlled study by Jan Sundquist, Åsa Lilja, Karolina Palmér, Ashfaque A. Memon, Xiao Wang, Kristson, Kristina, and Johan’sanson. Published online on November 27, 2014.