The validation of an active control intervention for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to validate an active control condition (HEP) and compare the relative efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to HEP, specifically testing mindfulness as an active ingredient.
Results Summary
MBSR reduced thermal pain ratings under mindfulness-related instruction but not HEP-related instruction. Both MBSR and HEP showed improvements in general distress, anxiety, hostility, and medical symptoms over time, but MBSR was no more effective than HEP in improving these outcomes.
Population
63 participants (31 in MBSR, 32 in HEP)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | decrease | thermal pain ratings | 63 participants | η(2) = .18 | led to reductions | #1 |
- | decrease | general distress | 63 participants | η(2) = .09 | significant improvements over time | #2 |
- | decrease | anxiety | 63 participants | η(2) = .08 | significant improvements over time | #3 |
- | decrease | hostility | 63 participants | η(2) = .07 | significant improvements over time | #4 |
- | decrease | medical symptoms | 63 participants | η(2) = .14 | significant improvements over time | #5 |
- | no change | general distress, anxiety, hostility, medical symptoms | 63 participants | - | no effects | #6 |
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | no change | well-being | 63 participants | - | is no more effective than a rigorous active control | #7 |
Most of the extant literature investigating the health effects of mindfulness interventions relies on wait-list control comparisons. The current article specifies and validates an active control condition, the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), thus providing the foundation necessary for rigorous investigations of the relative efficacy of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and for testing mindfulness as an active ingredient. 63 participants were randomized to either MBSR (n = 31) or HEP (n = 32). Compared to HEP, MBSR led to reductions in thermal pain ratings in the mindfulness- but not the HEP-related instruction condition (η(2) = .18). There were significant improvements over time for general distress (η(2) = .09), anxiety (η(2) = .08), hostility (η(2) = .07), and medical symptoms (η(2) = .14), but no effects of intervention. Practice was not related to change. HEP is an active control condition for MBSR while remaining inert to mindfulness. These claims are supported by results from a pain task. Participant-reported outcomes (PROs) replicate previous improvements to well-being in MBSR, but indicate that MBSR is no more effective than a rigorous active control in improving these indices. These results emphasize the importance of using an active control condition like HEP in studies evaluating the effectiveness of MBSR.