Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Reduces Psychological Distress and Improves Sleep in Patients With Remission-Phase IBD
A multicenter randomized controlled trial has found that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) significantly reduces psychological distress and improves well-being in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission who continue to experience elevated mental health symptoms. The findings support MBCT as a clinically valuable adjunct to standard care for managing residual symptoms in IBD.
The trial enrolled 142 patients with IBD in remission who reported at least mild psychological distress, defined by a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score of 11 or higher. Participants were randomized to receive group-based MBCT plus treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 70) or TAU alone (n = 72). Assessments occurred at baseline, post-intervention (3 months), and at 6, 9, and 12 months.
Compared to TAU alone, MBCT led to a moderate reduction in psychological distress (effect size d = –0.61) and a modest improvement in well-being (d = 0.40) at 3 months. These effects were sustained through the 12-month follow-up period.
“Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy can be considered a valuable addition to the limited effective psychosocial interventions set for patients with IBD,” the authors concluded.
Exploratory sleep data from electroencephalography also showed benefits. MBCT participants experienced a reduction in total sleep time (d = 0.67) and an increase in the proportion of deep sleep (d = 0.70), indicating improved sleep quality. Fecal calprotectin levels, a biomarker of intestinal inflammation, declined over time in the MBCT group (d = –0.49), although flare rates did not differ between groups.
This study adds evidence for integrating structured psychosocial interventions into IBD care, particularly for patients in remission with ongoing distress. MBCT may support both mental health and physiological outcomes, including inflammatory markers and sleep architecture.
Reference
Ter Avest MM, Huijbers MJ, Horjus CS, et al. Group-delivered mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to reduce psychological distress and improve sleep in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (MindIBD). Inflamm Bowel Dis. Published online July 14, 2025. doi:10.1093/ibd/izaf116
