This research was to see if the positive effects that were attained immediately after, were sustained after six months

Researchers from Tilburg University in The Netherlands conducted a 6-month follow up study of the DiaMind trial, which showed beneficial immediate effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on emotional distress, but not on diabetes distress nor on HbA1c.

This research was to see if the positive effects that were attained immediately after, were sustained after six months.

In the DiaMind trial, 139 outpatients with diabetes (type-I or type-II) and a lowered level of emotional well-being were randomized into MBCT (n=70) or a waiting list with treatment as usual (TAU: n=69).

Primary outcomes measured were perceived stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and diabetes distress. Secondary outcomes were, among others, health status, and glycemic control (HbA1c).

Compared to treatment as usual, MBCT showed sustained reductions at the six month follow-up in perceived stress (p<.001, d=.76), anxiety (p<.001, assessed by HADS d=.83; assessed by POMS d=.92), and HADS depressive symptoms (p=.004, d=.51), No significant between-group effect was found on diabetes distress and HbA1c.

The investigators conclude that the improvements in emotional distress that were derived immediately after the intervention were, in fact, sustained at six months post-intervention in this population of people with diabetes who had a lowered level of emotional well-being.

Citation: van Son J1, Nyklíček I2, Pop VJ1, Blonk MC3, Erdtsieck RJ4, Pouwer F1. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for people with diabetes and emotional problems: long-term follow-up findings from the DiaMind randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2014 Jul;77 (1): pages 81-4. I.[email protected]