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's d = 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.