Economic Evaluations of Mindfulness-Based Interventions: a Systematic Review.
Mindfulness January 1, 2022 Lingling Zhang, Snehal Lopes, Tara Lavelle et al.
A systematic review of 28 cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) published between 1985 and 2021 found that standardized programs such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) are less costly and more effective than usual care or cognitive behavioral therapy for several patient populations. MBSR was associated with lower healthcare costs and better outcomes for chronic lower back pain, fibromyalgia, and breast cancer. MBCT showed cost-effectiveness advantages for depression, medically unexplained symptoms, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer with persistent pain, adults with a history of major depressive episodes, ADHD, and all cancer patients. Mindfulness training also reduced costs from a societal perspective when used for aggressive behaviors in people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in mental health facilities.