Effectiveness of mindfulness based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms across mental disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Ekin Alkan, Geetanjali Kumar, Shreya Ravichandran, Samiksha Rakesh Kaushal, Gonzalo Salazar-de-pablo, Livia Alerci, Joelle Michaud-feinberg, Luis Gutiérrez-Rojas, Carline Zorzi, Paul Klauser, Philippe Golay, Ueli Kramer, Luis Alameda
Psychiatry research June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116473
Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) effectively reduce depressive symptoms across various psychiatric disorders, making them a valuable transdiagnostic treatment option. A systematic review analyzed 35 studies involving participants from 12 diagnostic categories, demonstrating significant effect sizes for Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy compared to active control conditions. With these findings, MBIs emerge as a promising, cost-effective approach for addressing depressive symptoms not just in depression but across a range of mental health disorders.
Abstract
Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly recognised for their efficacy in treating depressive disorders. Depressive symptoms are prevalent across various disorders and can significantly impact outcomes, therefore being an important transdiagnostic target. Multiple randomized controlled Trials (RCTs) have explored this question in discrete disorders; however, evidence has never been meta-analysed transdiagnostically. The Prospero-registered (CRD42022352046) systematic review has been conducted on EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO using terms related to Randomised controlled trials, mindfulness and depression in clinical samples aged between 18 and 65. Random-effects models were performed to assess the effectiveness of MBIs, including Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), on depressive symptoms transdiagnostically. We conducted sensitivity, heterogeneity analyses, publication bias assessments, meta-regressions and assessed quality. Thirty-five studies, including participants from 12 different diagnostic categories, were included. The results revealed that MBCT, ACT, DBT and others are efficacious in treating depressive symptoms across psychiatric diagnoses compared to active control conditions, all with significant effect sizes. MBIs are effective in reducing depressive symptoms across psychiatric disorders. They should be considered as a potential cost-effective tool to be systematically implemented, not only in those with depression but across mental health disorders.