Efectividad de un programa de enfermería en autocuidados y mindfulness, para el abordaje del trastorno mental común, en atención primaria

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of a mindfulness and self-care program to treat common mental health disorders in primary care. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental non-controlled, non-randomised study, with repeated measurements. SETTING: Seven health centres, in area v of the Principality of Asturias, between 2014 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects between 18-65 years with mixed anxiety, depressive, and adaptive disorders, with no serious mental disease. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used. INTERVENTION: A group intervention was made, consisting of 9 weekly sessions of 90 min, daily practice, and reinforcement sessions at one month, 3, 6, and 12 months. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Pre-post measurements using validated and self-administered questionnaires; medium-term (3-6 months) and long-term (> 12 months) of the variables: trait anxiety/state anxiety (Status-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire –STAI–); anxiety/depression (Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale –GHQ28–), mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire –FFMQ–), reduction of pharmacological treatment (open questions). RESULTS: The study included a final sample of 314 subjects. A statistically significant difference in means was found in the 3 follow-up periods as regards the baseline values for all the scales/subscales. There was a reduction of 54.3% in the taking of anxiolytic/antidepressant baseline medication in the long-term follow-up (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: A moderate reduction of the symptoms, together with the reduction of the medication, indicate that the intervention of mindfulness supervised by the primary care nurse can be a treatment option for the mental disorders common in this level of care.