ORIGINAL PAPER Individual Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for People with Diabetes: a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Maya J. Schroevers & K. Annika Tovote & Joost C. Keers & Thera P. Links & Robbert Sanderman & Joke Fleer # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013 Abstract Diabetes mellitus is a highly prevalent chronic health condition that places patients at greater risk for psycho- logical problems. Yet, there is still a lack of empirical evidence to support the use of psychological interventions in patients with diabetes. In this trial, we examined the feasibility of a novel intervention: individual mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (I-MBCT), an adaptation of the well-known group MBCT. We examined the feasibility of screening, recruiting, randomizing, and retaining patients into the study and their acceptability of I-MBCT. Descriptive analyses were performed to explore changes in patients' functioning over time, compar- ing those receiving I-MBCT with those in the waitlist control group. A sample of consecutive patients with diabetes was screened on psychological symptoms and when reporting ele- vated levels of symptoms, approached for the intervention trial. Patients completed self-report questionnaires pre- and pos- tintervention regarding psychological functioning (i.e., depres- sive symptoms, diabetes-related distress), mindfulness (i.e., act with awareness, accept without judgment), and attention regu- lation. In total, 499 patients were approached, of whom 347 patients filled out the screening questionnaire. Of these, 38 patients were eligible, and 24 were randomized in I-MBCT (n =12) or waitlist (n =12). Two of the 12 patients assigned to I- MBCT dropped out of the intervention. Most patients were very satisfied with I-MBCT. Preliminary analyses suggest that, compared to controls, patients receiving I-MBCT reported sig- nificant reductions in depressive symptoms and diabetes- related distress and improvements in act with awareness and attention regulation. This is the first RCT on individual-based MBCT, providing encouraging evidence for its feasibility and acceptability. Preliminary findings also suggest that I-MBCT may be associated with improvements in psychological func- tioning, which support larger trials on this alternative form of mindfulness-based therapy. Keywords Diabetes . Depression . Mindfulness . Therapy . Intervention . Randomized controlled trial Introduction Diabetes mellitus (diabetes) is a highly prevalent chronic health condition, with an estimated 19 million persons in the US diagnosed with diabetes in 2010 (CDC, 2011). Diabetes may put a considerable burden on patients. Patients with diabetes have an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and also at risk of other complications such as loss of vision, kidney failure, nervous system damage, and amputations. Effective control of glucose can prevent or delay these com- plications. It is therefore of utter importance that patients follow a strict treatment regime and guidelines regarding daily diet and exercise. Research has found that patients with diabetes have an increased risk for developing psychological problems, espe- cially diabetes-related distress and depression (Rustad et al. 2011). About 20–30 % of patients with diabetes experience comorbid depression (Anderson et al., 2001). As such symp- toms may negatively affect patients' quality of life and adher- ence to treatment and increase the risk for long-term compli- cations (Lin et al., 2004; Lustman et al., 2000), the develop- ment and testing of effective treatment to reduce psychologi- cal symptoms is imperative. M. J. Schroevers (*) : K. A. Tovote : R. Sanderman : J. Fleer Section Health Psychology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands e-mail: m.j.schroevers@med.umcg.nl J. C. Keers Research Institute, Martini Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands T. P. Links Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Mindfulness DOI 10.1007/s12671-013-0235-5