Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Mental Health and Coping in Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Pre-Post Intervention Study

Abstract

The present study explored the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MCBT) in improving mental health outcomes among patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Utilizing an informal experimental pre-post design, 25 participants received structured MCBT sessions over a defined intervention period. The study aimed to assess changes in depression and anxiety levels, psychological adaptation (BASE), and coping skills (COPE) before and after the intervention. Quantitative analyses, including paired-samples t-tests, revealed statistically significant improvements across all three psychological domains. Depression and anxiety scores showed a substantial decrease from pre-test (M = 55.08, SD = 8.63) to post-test (M = 29.72, SD = 4.67), while adaptation scores (BASE) also significantly declined, indicating better psychological adjustment. In contrast, coping skills demonstrated a marked increase from pre-test (M = 51.98, SD = 6.86) to post-test (M = 112.93, SD = 3.66), suggesting enhanced resilience and stress management. Normality assumptions were met for all variables, confirming the suitability of parametric testing. These findings support the theoretical foundations of MCBT, which emphasize the role of mindfulness and cognitive restructuring in managing psychological distress. The results hold significant practical implications for integrating MCBT into routine mental health services for neurodegenerative patients. Recommendations include the formal adoption of MCBT in healthcare systems, training for practitioners, and the development of culturally adapted interventions. The study concludes that MCBT is a highly effective, non-pharmacological approach for enhancing mental health, coping capacity, and overall psychological well-being in patients facing the chronic challenges of neurodegenerative disease. Future research should expand on these findings through longitudinal and multicenter studies.

Keywords: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, neurodegenerative diseases, depression, anxiety, coping, psychological well-being, intervention effectiveness.