Changes in depression and anxiety through mindfulness group therapy in Japan: the role of mindfulness and self-compassion as possible mediators
BioPsychoSocial Medicine February 18, 2019 Toru Takahashi, F. Sugiyama, T. Kikai et al.
An 8-week mindfulness group therapy program for 16 people in Japan who suffered from depression and/or anxiety led to significant decreases in depression and anxiety from before the program to after it and at a 2-month follow-up, with moderate to large effect sizes. Some facets of mindfulness and self-compassion improved, and these improvements, along with reductions in behavioral inhibition, correlated with lower depression and anxiety. Other factors like mind wandering and behavioral activation did not change significantly. The findings suggest the program may be effective for this population, with mindfulness and self-compassion as possible mediators.