The Comparison of the Effect of Mindfulness training and Biofeedback-Relaxation on Anxiety and Depression in the Elderly

The aime of this study was to compare the effect of mindfulness training and bio-feedback -relaxation on anxiety, depression in the elderly. The research method was semi-empirical in the type of pretest–posttest with a control group. The statistical population included all elderly women living in distinct 1 of Tehran in 98 spring .33 (65-65 years) (three groups of 11 each) were voluntarily selected. On the basis of pre-test score of anxiety and depression, they were divided into three groups of 11 homogeneous mindfulness, biofeedback-relaxation and control groups. Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventory (Beck, 1996) were used to measure the anxiety and depresstion before and after intervention. Mindfulness group received Mindfulness training and biofeedback- relaxation group recived combination of biofeedback training and relaxation (four sessions three weeks). The control group did not participate in any exercise. Analysis of covariance and paired t-test were used for data analysis. Anxiety and depression were significantly different between the groups (P<0/001). Although the scores of both biofeedback-relaxation and mindfulness groups in the post-test were significantly better than the pre-test and were significantly different from the control group (p <0.05), the difference between mindfulness and biofeedback-relaxation groups was not significant (p> 0.05). Mindfulness and biofeedback-relaxation exercises improve and reduce depression and anxiety in the elderly. But there was no difference between the effectiveness of these exercises. Given the easier and more convinience practice of mindfulness exercises, mindfulness exercises can be considered as an efficient approach to biofeedback training.