Scientific Reports
March 25, 2026
Johannes Björkstrand, Emil Olsson, Oisín Hugh Clancy et al.
Fear-based disorders affect millions worldwide, yet current treatments show limited effectiveness for many patients. While mindfulness is increasingly used clinically for anxiety and trauma disorders, the neural mechanisms underlying its effects on fear processing remain unclear. We conducted a randomized controlled trial using 7T fMRI to test whether mindfulness training enhances fear...
Scientific Reports
March 21, 2026
Ulrich Kirk, Cirkeline Nellemann Hovgaard, Marino Theodor Larsen Persiani et al.
To test whether a 10-day mindfulness program delivered through the ŌURA app improves sleep and stress in healthy adults, eighty-one adults were randomized to mindfulness (n = 49) or waitlist control (n = 32). Participants wore an Ōura ring during baseline, intervention/wait-list, and 4-week follow-up, recording sleep efficiency, total, deep, and light sleep, plus sleep-onset time....
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
October 23, 2025
Walter Staiano, Christine E Callahan, Michelle Davis et al.
Anxiety and depressive disorders affect hundreds of millions globally, with substantial barriers limiting access to evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy. Digital mental health interventions offer potential solutions to improve access to support. However, evidence of efficacy through randomized controlled trials is essential for clinical adoption. This study evaluated the...
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
August 8, 2023
Ulrich Kirk, Walter Staiano, Emily A. Hu et al.
21 citations
BACKGROUND: Stress-related mental health disorders have steadily increased and contributed to a worldwide disease burden with up to 50% experiencing a stress-related mental health disorder worldwide. Data suggest that only approximately 20%-65% of individuals receive treatment. This gap in receiving treatment may be attributed to barriers such as limited treatment access, negative stigma...