Mindfulness group therapy in primary care patients with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders: randomised controlled trial

Background Individual-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is in short supply and expensive. Aims The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to compare mindfulness-based group therapy with treatment as usual (primarily individual-based CBT) in primary care patients with depressive, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders. Method This 8-week RCT (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01476371) was conducted during spring 2012 at 16 general practices in Southern Sweden. Eligible patients (aged 20-64 years) scored >= 10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, >= 7 on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale or 13-34 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (self-rated version). The power calculations were based on non-inferiority. In total, 215 patients were randomised. Ordinal mixed models were used for the analysis. Results For all scales and in both groups, the scores decreased significantly. There were no significant differences between the mindfulness and control groups. Conclusions Mindfulness-based group therapy was non-inferior to treatment as usual for patients with depressive, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders.