Mindfulness Group Therapy May Help Treat Anxiety, Depression

Group mindfulness may be helpful in treating depression and anxiety in certain patients. The findings are examined via a recent study that's published in the British Journal of Pysychiatry.

For the study, researchers examined a form of treatment that showed similar results via individual cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT.)

Researchers at Lund University in Sweden and Region Skåne trained two instructors in group mindfulness treatment at 16 primary health care centers. The training process took six days.

"The study's results indicate that group mindfulness treatment, conducted by certified instructors in primary health care, is as effective a treatment method as individual CBT for treating depression and anxiety", said Jan Sundquist, in a news release. "This means that group mindfulness treatment should be considered as an alternative to individual psychotherapy, especially at primary health care centers that can't offer everyone individual therapy".

The study was carried out in groups of about 10 patients each, with all instructed to keep a diary in which patients were given a private training program with eight-weeks for a total of 215 patients to complete the study.

Findings showed that both groups reported a decrease in the symptoms. However, no statistical differences between group mindfulness treatments and individual CBT was discovered.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the article "Mindfulness group therapy in primary care patients with depression, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders: randomized controlled trial."

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