Comparing the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on the Quality of Life of Patients with Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide which is still highly prevalent despite dramatic medical advances. According to the statistics provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014, CVD-related mortality rate in Iran is 46%. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on quality of life (QOL) in patients with CVDs. Methods: This was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. In total, 60 patients with CVDs were recruited. Patients were allocated to the MBSR and CBT groups. Patients in the MBSR and CBT groups received intervention in 8, 2.5-hour sessions. The main outcome was QOL which was measured by the MacNew Quality of Life after Myocardial Infarction (QLMI) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS software. Results: ANCOVA revealed a significant difference between the MBSR group and CBT group regarding the post-test values of QOL (P = 0.001). Conclusion: This study revealed that MBSR and CBT are effective in reducing the QOL of patients with CVDs.