Continuation Sessions of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT-C) vs. Treatment as Usual in Late-Life Depression and Anxiety: An Open-Label Extension Study

Objectives Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a novel treatment for depression. Our published randomized controlled trial shows that MBCT improves symptoms of late-life depression (LLD) and anxiety (LLA). We now examine whether continuation sessions of MBCT (MBCT-C) can prevent LLD/LLA symptom recurrence. Methods/design Following an 8-week MBCT intervention, we compared patients who attended open-label weekly 1-hour MBCT-C for another 26 weeks (n = 10) vs those who did not (n = 17) for change in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results While there were no significant differences between groups on depressive or anxiety symptom severities between 8- and 34- weeks (Cohen'sd= 0.045), we observed a small clinical effect of MBCT-C on symptoms of anxiety (d= 0.29). Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that MBCT-C may be somewhat beneficial for symptoms of LLA, but not for LLD. Healthcare providers should consider what is clinically feasible before investing time and resources into MBCT-C in older adults with depression and/or anxiety.