ReviewEfficacy of mindfulness-based interventions on depressive symptoms among people with mental disorders: A meta-analysis
Section snippets
What is already known about this topic?
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Mindfulness-based interventions (MFIs) appear to be effective treatments for people with various medical conditions and psychological problems.
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Few systematic reviews suggest the potential usefulness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), one of MFIs, in reducing depressive symptoms in people diagnosed with major depressive disorders.
What this paper adds
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This meta-analytic study provides evidence to support the efficacy of different types of MFIs on depressive symptoms among people diagnosed with various mental disorders.
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Exposure-based cognitive therapy (EBCT) is found to be the most effective intervention as evidenced by the strongest effect size, followed by mindfulness-based stress reduction programme (MBSR), acceptance-based behaviour therapy, and stress less with mindfulness.
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Effect sizes of MFIs are significantly correlated with the length
Search strategies
In order to ensure representativeness of studies, multiple search strategies were performed. Firstly, electronic searches on published studies, unpublished dissertations/theses, unpublished research reports, and conference proceedings were undertaken. The databases used were: Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsyINFO, Dissertation Abstract International, Web of Science Index, controlled-trail.com, and clinicaltrials.gov. Secondly, reference lists of original articles and meta-analytic
Results
Following the comprehensive literature search, 788 abstracts were identified and reviewed according to the preset inclusion and exclusion criteria (Fig. 1). After the initial review, 557 abstracts were excluded as they did not fulfill the inclusion criteria and thus 231 potential abstracts were included. Subsequently, corresponding 231 full-text articles were retrieved and thoroughly examined and 192 articles were eventually excluded. Reasons for exclusion are reported in Fig. 1.
Discussion
This meta-analysis examined available evidence concerning the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions on depressive symptoms and tested the relationships between effect sizes and methodological variables. Thirty-nine studies involving 10 mindfulness-based interventions were included in the review, generating 105 effect sizes. Within-group comparisons yielded all large effect sizes ranging from 0.56 to 2.09 (average d = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.80) and between-group analyses produced a range of
Conclusion
This meta-analytic study provides strong evidence to support the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in alleviating depressive symptoms in adults with mental disorders. EBCT, MBSR, and ABT displayed the strongest effect sizes, whereas MBCT and modified DBT for ADHD had the weakest. The MFIs could be used in conjunction with other treatments in clinical settings.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to express sincere gratitude to Professor Beverley Taylor (Visiting Professor, Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, National University of Singapore) for her support and valuable comments/suggestions on this manuscript.
Conflict of interest. There is no conflict of interest in this research.
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