Randomized clinical trial of adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction versus group cognitive behavioral therapy for heterogeneous anxiety disorders

Abstract

Objective: To compare a mindfulness-based intervention with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for the group treatment of anxiety disorders. Method: One hundred five veterans (83% male, mean age = 46 years, 30% minority) with one or more DSM-IV anxiety disorders began group treatment following randomization to adapted mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) or CBT. Results: Both groups showed large and equivalent improvements on principal disorder severity thru 3-month follow up (ps < .001, d = -4.08 for adapted MBSR; d = -3.52 for CBT). CBT outperformed adapted MBSR on anxious arousal outcomes at follow up (p < .01, d = .49) whereas adapted MBSR reduced worry at a greater rate than CBT (p < .05, d = .64) and resulted in greater reduction of comorbid emotional disorders (p < .05, d = .49). The adapted MBSR group evidenced greater mood disorders and worry at Pre, however. Groups showed equivalent treatment credibility, therapist adherence and competency, and reliable improvement. Conclusions: CBT and adapted MBSR were both effective at reducing principal diagnosis severity and somewhat effective at reducing self-reported anxiety symptoms within a complex sample. CBT was more effective at reducing anxious arousal, whereas adapted MBSR may be more effective at reducing worry and comorbid disorders. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.