Protocol for a cluster-randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression, implemented in Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda.
BMC psychology May 20, 2025 Bahr Weiss, Van Vu, Hoang-Minh Dang et al. 2 citations
Depression is a major global health problem, and most people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive evidence-based treatment due to a shortage of mental health professionals and stigma. Task-shifting—training non-professionals to deliver mental health services—can help. This paper describes a planned cluster-randomized clinical trial that adapts Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for use in Buddhist pagodas in Vietnam. The trial will compare MBCT-VN against treatment-as-usual (Buddhist meditation) across eight pagodas with 160 participants. The primary outcome is depression severity (PHQ-9); secondary outcomes include quality of life and implementation measures. The study is non-blinded and lacks long-term follow-up but aims to provide preliminary evidence on pagodas as task-shifting sites for mindfulness-based depression interventions.