Mindfulness training programme for undergraduate and graduate students with depression, anxiety and stress symptoms: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background and objectives: High prevalence rates of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in undergraduate and graduate students have been pointed out as a growing concern in the literature. The high indexes of these psychopathological symptoms are considered a serious health problem, since they imply losses in the institutional, social and family spheres. Research on mindfulness interventions has demonstrated positive results in treating these symptoms. The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness training programme in the treatment of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in undergraduate and graduate students. Design: This is a randomized parallel-design controlled trial. Methods: Undergraduate and graduate students from the Federal University of Minas Gerais with depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms will be randomized into control and training group (n = 24/group). Mindfulness training will take place in a weekly meeting within 6 weeks and will be in a group format constituted by 8-12 participants. Each meeting will take 90 minutes. The control group will also receive the intervention after 6 weeks in the wait list condition. Outcome measures: The primary outcomes are Beck Depression Inventory-II, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Perceived Stress Scale scores. The secondary outcomes are Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and 12-item Short-Form Health Survey scores. Discussion: This trial will evaluate the efficacy of mindfulness training programme for undergraduate and graduate students with depressive, anxious and stress symptoms. This will help to improve mental health and the quality of life, as well as reducing psychological and social burdens for this population. Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Federal University of Minas Gerais, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil on April 20th, 2017, approval number 2.025.573. The committee will audit the progression of the research. The investigation results will be disseminated on peer review scientific journals. Trial registration: This trial was registered in the Brazilian Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br) (registration No. RBR-4mmvpc) on July 21st, 2017.