Background: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a promising treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently considered a first-line treatment for GAD. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of MBCT in symptomatic GAD patients compared with CBT for a variety of outcomes of anxiety symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms, overall illness severity, quality of life and mindfulness.
Methods: Adult patients with GAD (n = 138) were randomized to a MBCT or CBT group. Both groups received either MBCT or CBT in addition to treatment-as-usual (TAU). The primary outcomes were the anxiety response and remission rates, as measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Secondary outcomes included scores on the HAMA, the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Severity Subscale of the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S), and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) , as well as mindfulness measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Assessments were performed at baseline, 8 weeks after treatment, and at a 3-month follow-up. For primary analyses, response and remission rates were analyzed by the χ2 test in the two groups at each assessment time. For the secondary analyses, separate two-way mixed ANOVAs were performed to compare the mean differences in all secondary outcomes.
Results: The anxiety remission rate of the two groups significantly differed (63.8% in the MBCT group vs. 44.6% in the CBT group, p = 0.040, Cohen’s d = 0.39) but not in anxiety response rate (86.2% vs. 80.4%, p = 0.402; Cohen’s d = 0.16) at 8 weeks. Overall illness severity and mindfulness were significantly different between the groups at 8 weeks. There were no significant differences between the two groups at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Our data indicate that MBCT was effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in GAD patients. While MBCT appeared to have better short-term benefits, the long-term benefits of CBT may be superior.
Trial registration: registered at chic.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR1800019150, registration date: 27/10/2018).

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No competing interests reported.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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Posted 01 Jun, 2021
On 05 Oct, 2021
Received 02 Oct, 2021
On 22 Sep, 2021
Received 03 Aug, 2021
On 24 Jul, 2021
Invitations sent on 27 May, 2021
On 27 May, 2021
On 27 May, 2021
On 27 May, 2021
On 08 May, 2021
Posted 01 Jun, 2021
On 05 Oct, 2021
Received 02 Oct, 2021
On 22 Sep, 2021
Received 03 Aug, 2021
On 24 Jul, 2021
Invitations sent on 27 May, 2021
On 27 May, 2021
On 27 May, 2021
On 27 May, 2021
On 08 May, 2021
Background: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a promising treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently considered a first-line treatment for GAD. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of MBCT in symptomatic GAD patients compared with CBT for a variety of outcomes of anxiety symptoms, as well as depressive symptoms, overall illness severity, quality of life and mindfulness.
Methods: Adult patients with GAD (n = 138) were randomized to a MBCT or CBT group. Both groups received either MBCT or CBT in addition to treatment-as-usual (TAU). The primary outcomes were the anxiety response and remission rates, as measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Secondary outcomes included scores on the HAMA, the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Severity Subscale of the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S), and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) , as well as mindfulness measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Assessments were performed at baseline, 8 weeks after treatment, and at a 3-month follow-up. For primary analyses, response and remission rates were analyzed by the χ2 test in the two groups at each assessment time. For the secondary analyses, separate two-way mixed ANOVAs were performed to compare the mean differences in all secondary outcomes.
Results: The anxiety remission rate of the two groups significantly differed (63.8% in the MBCT group vs. 44.6% in the CBT group, p = 0.040, Cohen’s d = 0.39) but not in anxiety response rate (86.2% vs. 80.4%, p = 0.402; Cohen’s d = 0.16) at 8 weeks. Overall illness severity and mindfulness were significantly different between the groups at 8 weeks. There were no significant differences between the two groups at the 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Our data indicate that MBCT was effective in reducing anxiety symptoms in GAD patients. While MBCT appeared to have better short-term benefits, the long-term benefits of CBT may be superior.
Trial registration: registered at chic.org.cn (registration number: ChiCTR1800019150, registration date: 27/10/2018).

Figure 1

Figure 2
No competing interests reported.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
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