Abstract
This study investigates the limited research conducted on the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stressed Reduction (MBSR) on individuals suffering from anxiety-related disorders. Most previous studies have concentrated on the advantages of MBSR for patients with medical conditions or those not experiencing mental health problems. Nevertheless, recent research has exclusively focused on its efficacy for individuals with specific mental disorders. The results imply that MBSR can successfully reduce anxiety and worry, which are crucial components of anxiety disorders.
The effectiveness of MBSR in addressing symptoms of specific anxiety disorders, like social interactions in social anxiety disorder, and its suitability as a standalone treatment is uncertain. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of MBSR and how it complements other treatments for anxiety disorders.
Introduction
The Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was founded in 1974 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. It is a non-religious program that incorporates mindfulness meditation techniques from Eastern traditions. Over time, it has grown and is now offered as an adjunctive therapy in more than 200 hospitals to address different health concerns.
Kabat-Zinn (1990) defines mindfulness as the intentional focus on the present moment without judgment, observing experiences unfold. The program consists of 8 weeks with weekly 2.5-hour sessions and daily assignments for participants to practice mindful breathing meditation, body-scan, yoga, or inquiry exercises at home.
Previous research has primarily focused on utilizing MBSR in clinical settings to reduce anxiety and stress symptoms in medical patients and mentally healthy individuals. These studies consistently show positive improvements in participants’ physical and emotional well-being, including enhanced stress management abilities (Grossman, Nieman, Schmidt, & Walach, 2004).
However, limited research has been conducted on the effectiveness of MBSR for specific mental disorders. It is important to examine how MBSR affects individuals with these disorders as it may not be suitable considering their unique conditions.
On the other hand, MBSR could potentially alleviate numerous symptoms associated with these disorders and serve as a superior alternative to pharmacotherapy or cognitive-based therapy. Clinicians can benefit from this information when deciding treatment options and resource allocation since MBSR is also more affordable and accessible.
This research investigates the impact of MBSR on anxiety and worry symptoms in different anxiety disorders such as GAD and SAD. Koszycki et al. (2007), Evans et al. (2007), Jazaieri et al. (2012), and Vollestad et al. (2011) conducted studies to assess the effectiveness of MBSR.
Methods
Evans et al. (2007) conducted a study with individuals diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder according to DSM-IV criteria. The participants completed self-reports and inventories assessing anxiety, worry, depressive symptoms, and mindful awareness before and after the regular MBSR treatment. No other groups were included for comparison in this study.
In another study, Koszycki et al. (2007) focused on individuals with social anxiety disorder. They conducted a randomized trial where they created cognitive based group therapy (CBGT) as a form of treatment to compare its effects. Participants completed surveys measuring social interaction, social phobia, interpersonal sensitivity, disability, and quality of life at different time points – baseline, end of treatment, and 3 months after treatment.
Vollestad et al. (2011) conducted a study to validate the heterogeneity of anxiety disorders and emphasize their similarities. The study included individuals with panic disorder, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder (SAD), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). A total of 106 patients were randomly assigned to either a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group or a wait-list control group. Baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up self-evaluation questionnaires assessed insomnia, mindfulness, depression, worry, and anxiety.
Jazaieri et al. (2012) focused specifically on social anxiety disorder in their study. They conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 48 participants in an MBSR group and another group engaged in aerobic exercise. The study also included a healthy control group and an untreated group of SAD patients. Measures and inventories for levels of anxiety, social interaction anxiety, depression, stress levels, self-esteem,self-compassion,and loneliness were collected at baseline and post-treatment.
Results
Evans et al. (2007) reported a notable decrease in depression, anxiety, and worry scores following treatment. In a similar vein, Koszycki et al. (2007) discovered that the CMGT group (n = 27) exhibited lower scores compared to the MBSR group (n = 26) in self-report surveys regarding anxiety and worry associated with SAD symptoms. Nevertheless, both interventions demonstrated comparable enhancements in mood functioning, subjective well-being, disability, and quality of life scores.
Vollestad et al. (2011) discovered that the MBSR group witnessed a decline in anxiety, worry, and insomnia symptoms following treatment compared to the control group, and these enhancements were sustained during follow-up. Likewise, Jazaieri et al. (2012) noted that both MBSR and AE resulted in a decrease in clinical symptoms and enhanced well-being immediately after the intervention as well as at the 3-month mark, with no notable distinctions between the interventions.
Discussion
Research indicates that MBSR is a successful therapy for anxiety disorder, as it enhances mental well-being. This encompasses alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms while boosting overall life satisfaction. The advantageous impacts of MBSR treatment persisted over a substantial duration with no adverse effects. Nonetheless, when compared to AE treatment, MBSR exhibited comparable effectiveness. Conversely, CBGT was discovered to be more efficacious than MBSR in directly targeting anxiety disorder symptoms.
SAD (anxiety, worry, etc.)
Clinicians may suggest MBSR as a potential treatment for patients with anxiety disorders. However, there is no conclusive evidence to support that MBSR can effectively address symptoms of anxiety disorders on its own. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether it surpasses other existing treatments.
All the studies included in this analysis ensured that age, ethnicity, and background were consistent among the participants. The researchers also made sure that major depression, psychosis, or substance addiction did not affect the results. However, it is important to note that these studies used different comparison groups, had different sample sizes (ranging from n=11 to n=106), used different questionnaires, and were not replicated by other similar studies. Among them, Jazaieri et al.’s study seems to have the strongest experimental design as it was a randomized longitudinal assessment incorporating self-evaluative questionnaires and clinical measurements. It also included four comparison groups which contributed to a decent sample size. However, the study could have been strengthened further by including additional active treatment groups like MBCT or pharmacotherapy.
To determine the effectiveness of MBSR in reducing symptoms of anxiety disorder, future studies should use a randomized and longitudinal approach over a longer period, possibly up to a year. These studies should include an untreated group, a healthy control group, and another active treatment group for comparison. The experimental design should also address other questions such as whether MBSR is more effective on its own or when used alongside other conventional treatments, how it compares to alternative therapies, and if there are differences in compliance rates between MBSR and other treatments. Many more investigations are needed to definitively establish the effectiveness of MBSR for anxiety disorder symptoms. However, clinicians can confidently recommend MBSR to patients as no harmful effects have been observed and there is generally an improvement in overall well-being.
