Mindfulness-based interventions for people diagnosed with a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for individuals currently experiencing depressive or anxiety disorders.
Results Summary
MBIs showed significant benefits for depressive symptom severity but not for anxiety symptom severity, particularly when compared to inactive controls. Effects were more pronounced for Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) than for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
Population
Individuals diagnosed with a current episode of depressive or anxiety disorders (n=578).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | depressive relapse | people with a history of recurrent depression who are currently well | - | can reduce risk of | #1 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | primary symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = -0.59 | significant post-intervention between-group benefits | #2 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | depressive symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = -0.73 | Effects were demonstrated for | #3 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | no change | anxiety symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = -0.55 | not for | #4 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | primary symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = -1.03 | for RCTs with an inactive control | #5 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | no change | primary symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = 0.03 | not where there was an active control | #6 |
MBCT | decrease | primary symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = -0.39 | effects were found for | #7 |
MBSR | no change | primary symptom severity | participants who met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder | Hedges g = -0.75 | not for | #8 |
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) | decrease | primary symptom severity | people with a current depressive disorder | - | Effects of MBIs on | #9 |
OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can reduce risk of depressive relapse for people with a history of recurrent depression who are currently well. However, the cognitive, affective and motivational features of depression and anxiety might render MBIs ineffective for people experiencing current symptoms. This paper presents a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of MBIs where participants met diagnostic criteria for a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder. METHOD: Post-intervention between-group Hedges g effect sizes were calculated using a random effects model. Moderator analyses of primary diagnosis, intervention type and control condition were conducted and publication bias was assessed. RESULTS: Twelve studies met inclusion criteria (n = 578). There were significant post-intervention between-group benefits of MBIs relative to control conditions on primary symptom severity (Hedges g = -0.59, 95% CI = -0.12 to -1.06). Effects were demonstrated for depressive symptom severity (Hedges g = -0.73, 95% CI = -0.09 to -1.36), but not for anxiety symptom severity (Hedges g = -0.55, 95% CI = 0.09 to -1.18), for RCTs with an inactive control (Hedges g = -1.03, 95% CI = -0.40 to -1.66), but not where there was an active control (Hedges g = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.54 to -0.48) and effects were found for MBCT (Hedges g = -0.39, 95% CI = -0.15 to -0.63) but not for MBSR (Hedges g = -0.75, 95% CI = 0.31 to -1.81). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first meta-analysis of RCTs of MBIs where all studies included only participants who were diagnosed with a current episode of a depressive or anxiety disorder. Effects of MBIs on primary symptom severity were found for people with a current depressive disorder and it is recommended that MBIs might be considered as an intervention for this population.