Low-Intensity Guided Help Through Mindfulness (LIGHTMIND): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial comparing supported mindfulness-based cognitive therapy self-help to supported cognitive behavioural therapy self-help for adults experiencing depression

Abstract

Background: Depression has serious personal, family and economic consequences. It is estimated that it will cost £12.15 billion to the economy each year in England by 2026. Improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) is the National Health Service talking therapies service in England for adults experiencing anxiety or depression. Over 1 million people are referred to IAPT every year, over half experiencing depression. Where symptoms of depression are mild to moderate, people are typically offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) self-help (CBT-SH) supported by a psychological well-being practitioner. The problem is that over half of people who complete treatment for depression in IAPT remain depressed despite receiving National Institute of Health and Care Excellent recommended treatment. Furthermore, less than half of IAPT service users complete treatment. This study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of an alternative to CBT-SH. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) differs from CBT in focus, approach and practice, and may be more effective with a higher number of treatment completions.

Effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Based Mobile Application for the Treatment of Depression in Ambulatory Care: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

“…MBCT can both decrease depressive symptoms of a current depressive episode and avoid relapses in individuals with MDD [ 20 - 23 ]. The effects are comparable to those of other cognitive behavioral therapies [ 24 - 27 ] and showed favorable effects if used as an adjunct therapy to treatment as usual (TAU) [ 28 - 31 ]. There is growing evidence that web- and computer-based stress interventions can be effective in reducing stress, depressive, and anxiety symptoms [ 32 - 34 ].…”

Host microbiota can facilitate pathogen infection

“…Microbial approaches to managing disease in both humans and animals are gaining traction. The application of protective microbes directly to a host, or into a host’s habitat or food source, has been investigated for the control of infectious disease in endangered amphibians [ 36 ], aquaculture [ 156 ], and apiculture [ 157 ] as well as in the prevention and treatment of infectious and noninfectious human disease [ 38 ].…”

“…To understand the multifaceted contributors to infectious disease, the potentially harmful aspects of the microbiota and its components warrant consideration. Microbe-based therapies for disease are being investigated as alternatives to antimicrobials for a wide range of animal hosts, from endangered amphibians to humans [36][37][38]. A thorough evaluation of the potential for host microbiota to contribute to infectious disease is necessary to establish their utility in disease management as anti-infective prophylactics, probiotics, and prebiotics.…”

Intervention Fidelity in Mindfulness-Based Research and Practice: Developing Criteria to Acknowledge New Training Programs

“…Some findings suggest that teacher led MBP’s with longer practices may be more effective 9 ; however, ‘light touch’ approaches have also been shown to be beneficial 10 and may make mindfulness accessible in areas where the length of sessions and home practice commitment is a barrier to participation. 11 We do not yet know enough empirically to discount low intensity programs and instead propose to recognise the ‘dose’ or ‘intensity’ of the programme by presenting new MBP’s within the listing categories ‘mindfulness’ or ‘mindfulness-low-intensity’.…”