Mindfulness Training in a Heterogeneous Psychiatric Sample: Outcome Evaluation and Comparison of Different Diagnostic Groups

OBJECTIVES: To examine outcome after mindfulness training in a heterogeneous psychiatric outpatient population and to compare outcome in different diagnostic groups. METHOD: One hundred and forty-three patients in 5 diagnostic categories completed questionnaires about psychological symptoms, quality of life, and mindfulness skills prior to and immediately after treatment. RESULTS: The mixed patient group as a whole improved significantly on all outcome measures. Differential improvement was found for different diagnostic categories with respect to psychological symptoms and quality of life: Bipolar patients did not improve significantly on these measures. This finding could be explained by longer illness duration and lower baseline severity in the bipolar category. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness training is associated with overall improvement in a heterogeneous outpatient population. Differences in outcome between diagnostic categories may be ascribed to differences in illness duration and baseline severity.