Mindfulness-based group therapy reduces psychological and biological stress in schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are chronic mental illnesses characterized by severe cognitive and behavioral impairments, often accompanied by significant psychological and biological stress. Current treatments primarily focus on symptom management with antipsychotics, but frequently leave residual stress, emotional dysregulation, and functional deficits unaddressed. Non-pharmacological interventions like mindfulness-based therapies offer a promising, patient-centered avenue to mitigate chronic stress and improve coping mechanisms, thereby addressing a critical gap in holistic patient care. This study specifically investigates MBGT's potential to modulate both subjective psychological distress and objective biological stress markers, aiming to provide evidence for integrative treatment strategies.

A total of N=45 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were enrolled and randomized into two groups: a Mindfulness-Based Group Therapy (MBGT) arm or a Treatment as Usual (TAU) control arm. The MBGT intervention was conducted over a period of four weeks. Assessments of psychological and biological stress parameters were performed at two key time points: immediately before and immediately after each individual MBGT session, as well as at the beginning and end of the overall four-week study period. This rigorous design aimed to capture both acute and cumulative effects of MBGT.