Efficacy of an online Mindfulness-Based Intervention versus Treatment as Usual for the reduction of Anxiety and Depression symptoms

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety and Depression are two of the most prevalent disorders and most of the people affected don't receive the necessary assistance. Online Interventions are emerging as an affordable alternative.

Objective: Test the efficacy of an online mindfulness-based intervention to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Method: 152 participants were selected with anxious and depressive symptomatology that requested an online Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI online) or the treatment as Usual (TAU), creating two non-randomized groups, according to the intervention required by each participant

Results: A significant improvement of anxious and depressive symptomatology applying both treatments was found. TAU is more effective reducing symptomatology in Anxiety, while no differences are found in Depression between both treatments. Thus, an online Mindfulness-based intervention may be a viable alternative for the reduction of anxious-depressive symptoms when the usual psychological treatment is not accessible.