A Pilot Study Investigating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness for Endometriosis: Does presentation style influence outcomes?

Endometriosis is long-term condition experienced by about one in nine people assigned female at birth. Even with medical treatment, symptoms of endometriosis cause poorer health-related quality of life and psychological wellbeing, suggesting the need for psychological treatment. This study aimed to create and run an 8-week group cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness psychological therapy program for people with endometriosis. This study also aimed to determine whether the program was practical, appropriate, and could improve participant’s health-related quality of life and psychological wellbeing. Sixty-four participants with medically confirmed endometriosis chose to join either the group therapy program or continue care as usual, and all participants answered questionnaires at the baseline, 8 weeks, one-month follow-up, and 6 months follow-up. Participants who completed the group therapy program reported significantly improved health-related quality of life, anxiety, stress, and mindfulness scores over time. The group therapy program for endometriosis was found to be practical and appropriate, with evidence that it was more effective than care as usual in improving health-related quality of life and psychological wellbeing over time. The findings provide further evidence for the benefit of psychological treatment in the management of endometriosis.