Mindfulness-based group intervention in a public mental health service: preliminary evidence on transdiagnostic mechanisms of change

Objectives

Transdiagnostic processes such as emotion dysregulation, worry, and rumination are implicated in the onset and persistence of diverse psychopathological conditions. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) target these shared mechanisms and are particularly suitable for public mental health contexts, where patient populations are heterogeneous and resources are limited. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effects of a group-based mindfulness program implemented within the Italian National Health Service (Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, SSN).

Methods

Ten adult patients (70% female; age range 21-63 years) were recruited from the Centro di Salute Mentale (CSM) di Scandicci Community Mental Health Center– (AUSL Toscana Centro). All were receiving psychiatric and/or psychotherapeutic care within the SSN. Participants completed self-report questionnaires before and after an 8-week group mindfulness program. Outcomes included mindfulness skills, emotion regulation, worry, rumination, dissociation and maladaptive daydreaming. Treatment satisfaction was also assessed.

Results

Paired-sample t-tests showed significant improvements in overall mindfulness skills, with notable increases in nonjudgment and acting with awareness. Reductions were observed in emotion regulation difficulties and pathological worry. Trends toward improvement were detected for rumination and dissociative symptoms, though not statistically significant. Correlation analyses indicated that higher mindfulness skills at post-treatment were associated with lower emotion dysregulation.

Conclusions

These preliminary findings suggest that group-based MBIs are feasible and clinically promising in public outpatient services. By targeting transdiagnostic mechanisms such as emotion dysregulation and worry, mindfulness groups may provide ecologically valid and sustainable interventions for heterogeneous clinical populations in the SSN.