Evaluation of a group programme of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for women with fertility problems

Abstract

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has proved helpful for a number of health-related conditions but there is relatively little published literature about its use with fertility problems. The aim of this paper is to describe a pilot group programme adopted by a Clinical Health Psychology department, and to present findings from the routine outcomes data gathered by the service, evaluating its effectiveness. Data from nine women with fertility problems that took part in the programme were analysed. They completed measures of wellbeing and psychological distress before and after the treatment. The results showed clinically significant improvements in participants’ wellbeing scores and psychological distress. It was a limitation of the study that the impact of concurrent treatments could not be assessed and so could also have contributed to this outcome in half of the cases. Nevertheless, these results suggest that MBCT may be a helpful treatment for women presenting with fertility-related distress.

Keywords::

• Cognitive therapy
• fertility
• infertility
• mindfulness

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Lih-Mei Liao, Lead Psychologist at UCLH Women's Health Division and Rachelle Tipler, Assistant Psychologist, for their assistance with data collection.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.