Meditation‐based lifestyle modification in mild to moderate depression—A randomized controlled trial. Issue 5 (21st March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bringmann, Holger C.; Michalsen, Andreas; Jeitler, Michael; Kessler, Christian S.; Brinkhaus, Benno; Brunnhuber, Stefan; Sedlmeier, Peter
• Is Part Of: Depression and anxiety. Volume 39:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 363
• Page End: 375
• Publication Date: 2022-03-21
• Subjects: depression -- ethical living -- mantra -- meditation -- yoga; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Depression, Mental -- Periodicals; Depression -- Periodicals; Anxiety -- Periodicals; Anxiety Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.8527005
• DOI: 10.1002/da.23249
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1091-4269

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Depression is a global key challenge in mental health care. The implementation of effective, low‐risk and cost‐effective interventions to reduce its disease burden is a necessity. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the new Meditation‐Based Lifestyle Modification (MBLM) program, a "second‐generation" mindfulness‐based intervention, in depressive outpatients. Methods: Eighty‐one patients with mild to moderate depression were randomized into three groups: intervention group (MBLM), control group (CONTROL), and treatment as usual group (TAU). The primary outcome was the change of depressive symptoms as administered by the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II) after 4 and 8 weeks. Secondary outcome variables included the Brief Symptom Checklist‐18 and the Perceived Stress Scale‐10. A 6‐month follow‐up was conducted. Results: A greater reduction of depressive symptoms was found in MBLM participants compared to CONTROL ( p < .001, η p 2 = 0.11, d = 0.70) and TAU ( p < . 001, η p 2 = 0 . 10, d = 0 . 67 $p\lt .001, {\eta }_{{\rm{p}}}^{2}=0.10, d=0.67$ ) with a 13.15 points reduction of BDI‐II score versus 1.71 points (CONTROL) and 3.34 points (TAU) after 8 weeks. Between‐group post hoc tests for all secondary outcomes and at follow‐up also yielded significant between‐group differences with medium to large effect sizes in favor of MBLM. Conclusions: Study results showed beneficial effects of MBLM in depressed outpatients. Further high‐quality controlled clinical studies including qualitative research are needed to investigate the specific and unspecific effects of the MBLM program in depression and other medical conditions.