Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy improved happiness and mood in women living with HIV compared to control.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on psychological outcomes in 92 women living with HIV. The study was conducted in Ahvaz, Iran, comparing an intervention group receiving MBCT against a control group receiving no specific intervention. The primary outcome measured was happiness, while secondary outcomes included self-esteem, mood, self-efficacy, health perception, life satisfaction, and depression.

The MBCT group demonstrated a significant increase in happiness scores, rising from 30.9 ± 7.1 to 40.5 ± 4.9, whereas the control group showed minimal change from 32.8 ± 7.1 to 33.9 ± 7.0 (p < 0.001). Similar statistically significant improvements were observed for self-esteem (2.1 ± 1.4 to 3.3 ± 1.0, p < 0.01), mood (8.8 ± 2.9 to 11.0 ± 2.5, p < 0.01), self-efficacy (3.4 ± 1.7 to 4.8 ± 1.7, p < 0.01), health perception (6.8 ± 2.1 to 9.2 ± 1.6, p < 0.01), and life satisfaction (11.7 ± 3.4 to 14.7 ± 2.5, p < 0.01). Conversely, depression scores decreased significantly in the intervention group from 16.6 ± 4.9 to 11.9 ± 3.1 (p < 0.001).

No adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, or tolerability issues were reported. However, the study limitations include a small sample size of 92 participants and a single-center design in Iran. These factors restrict the generalizability of the results to other populations or settings. While the findings suggest potential benefits for psychosocial well-being, clinicians should interpret these results conservatively until larger, multicenter trials confirm efficacy and safety across diverse HIV care environments.