The effect of mindfulness group therapy on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms: A randomised controlled trial in primary health care

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders, such as depressive, anxiety and stress and adjustment disorders cause substantial mental suffering and may lead to recurrence of more severe episodes and even suicide [ 1 x [1] Nordstrom, A. and Bodlund, O. Every third patient in primary care suffers from depression, anxiety or alcohol problems. Nord J Psychiatry. 2008; 62: 250–255 Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (36) | Google Scholar See all References , 2 x [2] Lejtzen, N., Sundquist, J., Sundquist, K., and Li, X. Depression and anxiety in Swedish primary health care: prevalence, incidence, and risk factors. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014; 264: 235–245 Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (12) | Google Scholar See all References ]. These very common psychiatric disorders also place a large economic burden on society. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been acknowledged to be an effective way of treating, for example, depressive disorders [ 3 x [3] Oei, T.P., Bullbeck, K., and Campbell, J.M. Cognitive change process during group cognitive behaviour therapy for depression. J Affect Disord. 2006; 92: 231–241 Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (55) | Google Scholar See all References , 4 x [4] Cuijpers, P., Berking, M., Andersson, G., Quigley, L., Kleiboer, A., and Dobson, K.S. A meta-analysis of cognitive-behavioural therapy for adult depression, alone and in comparison with other treatments. Can J Psychiatry. 2013; 58: 376–385 Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (249) | Google Scholar See all References ]. In Sweden, CBT is used as one of the standard treatments for patients in primary health care but other types of therapies are also recommended, such as interpersonal therapy (IPT) and psychodynamic therapy. Patients, who seek individual based psychotherapies may, however, have to wait for some time before seeing a therapist as the availability of such psychotherapeutic treatments is limited. A stronger focus on group therapy could help to save limited resources and increase access to psychotherapy.