Mindfulness-based interventions for people diagnosed with a current episode of an anxiety or depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
PLoS One June 15, 2016 Clara Strauss, Kate Cavanagh, Annie Oliver et al.
A meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 578 participants found that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) reduce symptom severity for people currently experiencing a depressive disorder, but not for those with a current anxiety disorder. MBIs showed a moderate benefit over control conditions on primary symptom severity. The benefit was significant for depressive symptoms but not for anxiety symptoms. Effects were present when compared with inactive controls but not with active controls. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) showed a significant effect, while mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) did not. The authors suggest MBIs may be considered for people with current depressive disorder.