Clinical psychology review
February 1, 2026
Liucan Xu, Simon B Goldberg, Lin Zhang et al.
1 citation
Second-generation mindfulness-based interventions (SG-MBIs), which incorporate ethical and moral practices, effectively reduce depression and anxiety in adults. A meta-analysis of 43 randomized controlled trials on depression (3,756 participants) and 37 on anxiety (3,199 participants) found moderate to large effects: depression improved by a standardized mean difference of 0.59 and anxiety by 0.61. Effects remained significant after removing outlier studies (depression: 0.44; anxiety: 0.40). Clinical populations benefited more than healthy or mixed samples. Follow-up data from 20 trials showed sustained depression reductions (0.70). Most trials had some methodological concerns, but excluding high-risk studies did not change the results. SG-MBIs appear especially valuable for clinical groups and self-compassion-focused interventions.
Research square
May 19, 2026
Sunjuri Sun, Claudia Hanson, Peter S Hendricks et al.
The evidence on child and maternal outcomes after exposure to classic psychedelics during pregnancy is very sparse and of very low certainty. A systematic review of 42 studies, mostly case reports from high-income countries, found that LSD was the most commonly reported substance. Outcomes reported included spontaneous abortions (2 studies), stillbirth (1 study), neonatal mortality (16 studies), preterm birth (17 studies), birthweight (15 studies), and congenital malformations (26 studies). No maternal deaths were reported. Because of small sample sizes and varied study designs, no meta-analysis was possible. The authors conclude that methodologically rigorous research on psychedelic use during pregnancy is urgently needed.
Research square
June 4, 2025
Isaac N Treves, Ya-Yun Chen, Caitlyn L Wilson et al.
Mindfulness-based interventions produce small-to-medium improvements in self-reported interoceptive awareness, according to a meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials involving 2,191 participants (77.8% female, mean age 32.8 years). The overall effect size was g = 0.31, with mindfulness-based programs showing the largest effects (g = 0.41). Improvements in interoception were similar in size to improvements in self-reported mindfulness and were linked to reductions in psychological distress. No evidence of publication bias was found, and no other moderators—such as practice dosage or clinical sample—were significant. The findings suggest that mindfulness training leads to adaptive changes in how people subjectively experience bodily signals, which may contribute to better mental wellbeing.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England)
January 1, 2024
Otto Simonsson, Peter S Hendricks, Cecilia Ud Stenfors et al.
A longitudinal study with nearly 10,000 US and UK adults found that people who used psychedelics during a two-month period reported greater increases in unusual visual experiences compared to those who did not. The effect was strongest among first-time users. These visual experiences occurred after the acute drug effects had worn off. The findings support earlier case reports and cross-sectional studies suggesting that naturalistic psychedelic use may be linked to persistent visual phenomena, though further longitudinal research is needed to clarify cause-and-effect relationships.