BMJ mental health
August 24, 2024
Shannon Maloney, Merle Kock, Yasmijn Slaghekke et al.
16 citations
A systematic review of 27 randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness skills, decentering, and attitudes such as self-compassion are significant indirect pathways through which mindfulness-based programs improve mental health and well-being. Only four studies examined mechanisms within specific mindfulness practices. The evidence for alternative mechanisms like attention and awareness remains limited, especially regarding well-being outcomes, mental health promotion, and comparisons with active controls. The authors call for high-quality trials with powered multivariate mediation analyses to address these knowledge gaps and guide future interventions.
BMJ mental health
March 3, 2025
Alice Jane Larsen, Giulia Teobaldi, Rosario Isabel Espinoza Jeraldo et al.
10 citations
Depression in older adults is often undertreated. An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials involving 1196 participants aged 55 and older with treatment-resistant depression found that, compared with placebo, those receiving active interventions were more likely to achieve remission (odds ratio 2.42). Ketamine therapy showed a significant benefit (odds ratio 2.91), while transcranial magnetic stimulation, selegiline, aripiprazole augmentation, pharmacogenetic-guided prescribing, and cognitive remediation showed trends or weak evidence favoring intervention. The authors note a lack of evidence for routinely prescribed antidepressants and psychosocial treatments in this population, forcing clinicians to rely on data from younger adults.
BMJ mental health
February 28, 2024
Maris Vainre, Tim Dalgleish, Peter Watson et al.
1 citation
A randomized trial tested whether a 4-week, self-guided, online mindfulness-based programme could improve work performance compared with a light physical exercise programme among 241 employees from eight employers. Both interventions were highly acceptable, and most participants started the course. The mindfulness programme offered negligible benefits for work performance at both post-intervention and 12-week follow-up. Both interventions improved mental health outcomes, but differences between them were small. The trial was feasible, but results provide little support for a later-phase trial comparing the two approaches, suggesting mindfulness programmes are unlikely to improve work performance beyond light physical exercise.
BMJ mental health
February 1, 2026
Elvin Tsz-Fung Wong, Eric Kam-Pui Lee, Phoenix Kit-Han Mo et al.
Loneliness is common among Chinese older adults. A randomized controlled trial compared an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention for older adults (MBOA) with a social contact control (SCC) in 245 community-dwelling lonely adults aged 60 or older in Hong Kong. At 12 months, there was no significant difference in loneliness reduction between the two groups, though both improved (within-group effect size: MBOA -0.58, SCC -0.31). MBOA participants showed reduced depressive symptoms and a trend toward less anxiety at 6 months compared with SCC. The findings suggest MBOA is not superior to social contact for loneliness but may benefit psychological symptoms.