title: The effect of mindfulness group therapy on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms: A randomised controlled trial in primary health care.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  
  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).
  
  
  
  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).
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01476371.
authors.affiliation: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Building 28, Floor 11, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden. Electronic address: jan.sundquist@med.lu.se.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundquist
authors.affiliation: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Building 28, Floor 11, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palmér
authors.affiliation: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Building 28, Floor 11, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Center for Primary Health Care Research, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Building 28, Floor 11, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundquist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Affective disorders; Anxiety disorders; Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT); Other psychotherapy