The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Therapy on Mental Health of Adults with a Chronic Medical Disease: a Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal J Psychosom Res

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2010 May 22

PMID 20488270

Citations 210

Authors

Ernst Bohlmeijer

Rilana Prenger

Erik Taal

Pim Cuijpers

Affiliations

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Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on depression, anxiety and psychological distress across populations with different chronic somatic diseases.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to examine the effects of MBSR on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. The influence of quality of studies on the effects of MBSR was analyzed.

Results: Eight published, randomized controlled outcome studies were included. An overall effect size on depression of 0.26 was found, indicating a small effect of MBSR on depression. The effect size for anxiety was 0.47. However, quality of the studies was found to moderate this effect size. When the studies of lower quality were excluded, an effect size of 0.24 on anxiety was found. A small effect size (0.32) was also found for psychological distress.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that MBSR has small effects on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in people with chronic somatic diseases. Integrating MBSR in behavioral therapy may enhance the efficacy of mindfulness based interventions.

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