Authors (including presenting author) :
Jim ML(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Occupational Therapy Department, Queen Mary Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Mood disorder
Introduction :
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an evidence-based intervention for preventing depressive relapse. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L), developed by the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, is an adaptation designed for the general population to promote mindfulness practice and flourishing. Although primarily intended for non-clinical groups, its curriculum appears suitable for clinical populations with mood disorders in promoting well-being. Wellbeing is a key factor in relapse prevention and mental health recovery. Occupational therapy focuses on enhancing quality of life and well-being through meaningful daily activities, and integrating mindfulness into occupations aligns closely with MBCT-L principles. This pilot program evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of MBCT-L delivered via telehealth to patients with mood disorders in an occupational therapy outpatient setting.
Objectives :
To assess the preliminary effectiveness of MBCT-L in promoting functioning, enhancing well-being, improving mindfulness traits and reducing mood symptoms among patients with mood disorders.
Methodology :
The MBCT-L program was delivered in the Occupational Therapy Department of Queen Mary Hospital, via telehealth. It comprised eight weekly sessions, each with a specific theme, led by an occupational therapist with MBCT trained teacher certificate (Stage 6 by the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation). The full-day retreat was omitted due to feasibility constraints in this pilot. Participants with mood disorders
were recruited and screened by occupational therapists during individual sessions. Outcome measures included the Chinese version of Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) for mindfulness traits, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) for mood symptoms, the Chinese version of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (C-SWEMWBS) for well-being, and the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS) for functioning. Assessments were conducted pre- and post-program.
Result & Outcome :
Three batches of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) program were conducted from August 2024 onward. Of the 27 participants initially enrolled, nine dropped out due to time constraints or discontinuation of occupational therapy services, resulting in 18 completers. All participants completed pre-assessments. Post-assessments were fully completed by eight participants, with three additional participants providing partial data (FFMQ and DASS-21 only). Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (SPSS version 31) revealed significant improvements in FFMQ Observing (p = 0.013), Nonreactivity to Inner Experience (p = 0.009), and Total Score (p = 0.047). A significant reduction was also observed in DASS-21 Depression scores (p = 0.014). Additionally, SOFAS scores increased significantly (p < 0.01), indicating improved social and occupational functioning. No significant changes were found in well-being (C-SWEMWBS; p = 0.914) or other subscales. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence supporting the application of MBCT-L in a clinical population to enhance mindfulness skills and reduce depressive symptoms. MBCT-L also demonstrated effectiveness in improving functioning, consistent with core occupational therapy principles. Key limitations include the small sample size and high attrition rate. Larger-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings and further examine the intervention’s impact on well-being.
