Internet-delivered modified Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (iMBCT) intervention for perceived stress and emotional distress: A pilot RCT study

Abstract Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing depression relapse and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Preliminary research on the online version of an eight-week MBCT (iMBCT) has shown promising results in decreasing emotional distress, aligning with the positive effects observed in traditional MBCT programs. However, there is a notable gap in our understanding regarding whether the abbreviated form of iMBCT effectively reduces perceived stress and emotional distress. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap. A total of 1,348 distressed individuals from the community participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to 30-day, modified, unguided iMBCT intervention or waiting-list condition (WLC). Our reduced iMBCT consisted of six sessions, each containing guided meditations and psychoeducation recordings and materials. Perceived stress, anxiety, depression, resilience and self-compassion measurements were assessed at baseline and after 30 days of the intervention. At post-test the iMBCT participants showed a significant decrease in perceived stress, anxiety and depression and an increase of self-compassion and resilience. Participants in WLC, contrary, did not manifest any changes over time in any of the measures. Our results indicate that an online, unguided, 30-day MBCT program may be effective for distressed individuals.