EFFECTIVENESS OF MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION THERAPY ON ANXIETY SYMPTOMS AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG PATIENTS WITH GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Background: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition characterized by excessive and persistent worry, which adversely affects an individual's psychological well-being and coping abilities. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has emerged as an effective non-pharmacological intervention for managing anxiety and enhancing coping skills.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy in reducing anxiety symptoms among patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), to assess changes in coping strategies, and to compare outcomes between the experimental and control groups.

Methods: A quantitative research approach with a randomized controlled trial design was adopted. The study was conducted among 120 patients diagnosed with GAD in selected hospitals of Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Participants were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n=60) and a control group (n=60). Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire, a standardised Coping Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The experimental group received an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in addition to routine care, whereas the control group received routine care alone. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including independent t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square test, were used for data analysis.

Results: Pre-test findings revealed that 53.3% of participants in the experimental group and 73.3% in the control group had moderate anxiety. Following the intervention, 83.3% of participants in the experimental group demonstrated improved anxiety outcomes compared to the control group. The post-test mean anxiety score was significantly lower in the experimental group (Mean = 1.72 ± 0.454) compared to the control group (Mean = 2.83 ± 0.376) (t = 14.31, p = 0.0001). Similarly, coping strategy scores significantly improved in the experimental group (Mean = 2.83 ± 0.376) compared with the control group (Mean = 1.52 ± 0.504) (t = 15.72, p = 0.0001). Significant associations were observed between MBSR therapy outcomes and duration since diagnosis (p = 0.019) as well as cause of current anxiety (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy was found to be highly effective in reducing anxiety symptoms and improving coping strategies among patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The findings support the integration of MBSR as a complementary therapeutic approach in mental health care settings to enhance psychological well-being and coping capacity among individuals with GAD.