Short-term program of mindfulness-based therapy for anxiety disorders using biofeedback: a pilot study

<p>This study is intended to determine the preliminary effectiveness of a short-term 10-day program for the treatment of anxiety disorders using methods of mindfulness formation using biofeedback (biofeedback). The sample size was 94 patients of the psychotherapy department of the Clinic of Nervous Diseases named after A.Y. Kozhevnikov Clinical Center of Sechenov University (68.1% women and 31.9% men) with a mean age of years (M = 43.52, SD = 13.58) met the study criteria and completed the program. Subjects were randomized into three groups: (1) mindfulness program using adaptive biocontrol methods (without medication support) (OBT — mindfulness and biofeedback), (2) medication treatment of anxiety disorder (MT — medication therapy), and (3) combination of medication therapy methods and mindfulness program using biofeedback methods (CT — combination therapy). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, after 10 days of treatment, and 1 month post-treatment. At the end-of-program follow-up point, patients whose therapy programs included a short-term program of mindfulness and biofeedback practices (OBT and CT groups) showed the best results in reducing anxiety, somatic symptoms, and increasing mindfulness factors. The results were maintained during a one-month follow-up period. The results warrant a larger study to identify predictors of therapy.</p>