RCT | Mindfulness therapy proves more effective and affordable than cognitive behavioral therapy for depression

Summary: The LIGHTMind Randomized Clinical Trial studied 410 adults with mild to moderate depression, comparing the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of practitioner-supported mindfulness-based cognitive therapy self-help (MBCT-SH) to practitioner-supported cognitive behavioral therapy self-help (CBT-SH). The trial provided participants with either an MBCT-SH or CBT-SH workbook and six support sessions with a trained practitioner. Depressive symptom severity was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) score at 16 weeks after randomization.

Results showed that MBCT-SH led to significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms and was more cost-effective than CBT-SH. The between-group difference was 1.5 PHQ-9 points, and MBCT-SH cost health services £526 ($631) less per participant over a 42-week follow-up period. A substantial portion of this cost difference was due to additional face-to-face individual psychological therapy accessed by CBT-SH participants outside of the study intervention.

The trial concluded that offering practitioner-supported MBCT-SH for mild to moderate depression could improve outcomes and save money compared to CBT-SH. To translate these findings into practice, proper training and supervision for practitioners delivering MBCT-SH are necessary. Future research should focus on corroborating and extending these findings, exploring factors contributing to MBCT-SH’s relative effectiveness, and examining potential barriers and facilitators for successful implementation in routine clinical practice.

Article: Clinical Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Supported Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Self-help Compared With Supported Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Self-help for Adults Experiencing Depression: The Low-Intensity Guided Help Through Mindfulness (LIGHTMind) Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Psychiatry

Commentary:

Mindfulness better than CBT for treating depression, study finds – The Guardian

Practitioner-Supported Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Aids Depression – HealthDay

Commentary on Twitter

Practitioner-supported mindfulness-based cognitive therapy self-help for mild-moderate depression is clinically- and cost-effective compared to currently recommended practitioner-support CBT self-help. https://t.co/H23AfwiO7X pic.twitter.com/xTHzYG4oqg

— JAMA Psychiatry (@JAMAPsych) March 22, 2023