A randomized, controlled clinical trail: the effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on generalized anxiety disorder and health service utilization in primary care

INTERVENTION: Two groups:mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy versus Psycho‐education group (PEG) based on cognitive behavioural therapy principles / Waitlist control ; CONDITION: generalized anxiety disorder PRIMARY OUTCOME: Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the Chinese version Beck Anxiety Inventory and the validated Chinese version Penn State Worry Questionnaire.; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Depressive symptoms will be measured by the validated Chinese version of the Centre for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression Scale (CES‐D).;Health related quality of life will be measured by the validated Chinese version Medical Outcomes Study Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐12).;“Mindfulness” will be measured by the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire.;Health service utilization including visits to primary care doctors (both private and public) and hospitalizations will be recorded.;The frequency and duration of practice of both MBSR and PEG in each group will be documented;medication use including changes in medication will be monitored at 3 month interval.;Response rate (enrolment of subjects), retention rate (number and proportion attended each class) of the MBCT and the psycho‐education group will be documented.; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) being 21‐65 years of age; 2) having, at baseline assessment, a DSM‐IV TR principal diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder on SCID 14 and a score of 10 or above using the Chinese version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory; 3) can understand Cantonese; 4) are willing to attend the MBCT programme.