Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40011881›Full record

Trial reportBMC complementary medicine and therapies2025

Effectiveness of an age-modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in improving mental health in older people with depressive symptoms: a non-randomised controlled trial.

Yun-Han Wang, Yun-Lin Wang, Dara Kiu Yi Leung, Zuna Loong Yee Ng, Oscar Long Hung Chan, Stephanie Ming Yin Wong, Raymond Chi Leung Chan, Tianyin Liu, Gloria Hoi Yan Wong, Terry Yat Sang Lum

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readClinical Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05995587 nacompletednot on this map

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Managing Depressive Symptoms in Older People: A Non-Randomised Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe University of Hong KongRan2022 to 2023Enrolled112ConditionsDepressive SymptomsArmsMindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
NCT06528132 narecruitingnot on this map

Social Worker-led Mindfulness-based Intervention for Managing Depressive Symptoms in Community-dwelling Older Adults in Hong Kong: A Randomised Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe University of Hong KongRan2024 to 2026Enrolled207ConditionsDepressive SymptomsArmsMindfulness-based intervention (MBI) (enhanced with peer supporters), Experimental: social worker-led MBI (without peer supporters)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yun-Han WangDepartment of Psychology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9721-0941
Yun-Lin WangDepartment of Counseling, Clinical and Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan, Republic of China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4772-6154
Dara Kiu Yi LeungDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. daralky@hku.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7255-2790
Zuna Loong Yee NgDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Oscar Long Hung ChanDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Stephanie Ming Yin WongDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9535-9846
Raymond Chi Leung ChanDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Tianyin LiuDepartment of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8194-5342
Gloria Hoi Yan WongSchool of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, England.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1331-942X
Terry Yat Sang LumDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1196-5345

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEmerging evidence has shown that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is effective in improving depressive symptoms in the older population. However, the accessibility to MBCT is limited by the shortage of psychotherapists or mindfulness teachers. One potential solution is to involve social workers, who have the knowledge and skills to promote individual and community well-being in various settings, in delivering modified MBCT to enhance its accessibility and sustainability. This study examined the effectiveness of an eight-week age-modified MBCT led by different mental health professionals (mindfulness teacher only vs. mindfulness teacher and social worker) in improving mental health outcomes as compared with a control group.

methodsOlder adults (N = 112) were recruited through five community-based centres for older adults and mental wellness in Hong Kong. Participants were allocated to one of three groups: (1) mindfulness teacher-led modified MBCT, (2) social worker/teacher co-led modified MBCT (50% led by social workers and 50% led by mindfulness teacher), or (3) control (care as usual). The age-modified MBCT consisted of eight weekly sessions, with age-related modifications including more sitting meditation, shortened duration of each session, and the removal of the retreat. Outcome variables (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, and mindfulness) were assessed at baseline (T0), after the intervention (T1), and four weeks after the intervention (T2), through self-reported questionnaires. Linear mixed models were performed while controlling for demographic variables to examine changes in outcome variables between the groups.

resultsParticipants from the age-modified MBCT intervention groups (teacher-led and social worker/teacher co-led) showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms and stress, as well as greater increase in mindful non-reactivity, compared to the control group post-intervention. No significant interaction effect of time and group was found for anxiety and both overall mindfulness and its other facets. The improvements in mental health and mindfulness outcomes post-intervention were not significantly different between the teacher-led and social worker/teacher co-led MCBT groups. DISCUSSION: Age-modified MBCT is beneficial in managing depressive and stress symptoms and in improving mindful non-reactivity among older adults at risk for depression. The findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of partial task-shifting in the delivery of MBCT to trained social workers. Future studies may explore the possibility for social workers in leading MBCTs independently to further improve its scalability and service accessibility for older adults in the community.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05995587. Retrospectively registered on 16 August 2023.

Indexed as

Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDepressionMental HealthMindfulnessAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHong KongHumansMaleMiddle AgedAnxietyDepressionMindfulnessMindfulness-based cognitive therapyOlder adultsSocial workersStress

Identifiers

PMID40011881
PMCPMC11863447

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.