General Psychiatry
December 1, 2019
Eric Bui, Franklin King, Andrew Melaragno
14 citations
Progress in developing new medications for anxiety and stress-related disorders has been limited over the past 30 years, but researchers are now investigating novel molecular pathways beyond the traditional monoamine systems. Enhancing psychotherapy with pharmacological compounds could transform the standard of care and introduce a paradigm shift in how medications are conceptualized in psychiatric treatment. More human trials and translational research are needed, but pursuing innovative mechanisms is expected to yield substantial results and move beyond the reliance on 20th-century chemical agents.
Journal of Affective Disorders
September 1, 2025
Elizabeth A Hoge, Mihriye Mete, Amanda W Baker et al.
3 citations
For adults with anxiety disorders, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) delivered via videoconference was comparably effective to in-person MBSR, but MBSR-VC did not meet the threshold for non-inferiority compared to the antidepressant escitalopram (ESC) delivered by videoconference. In a randomized controlled trial with 202 participants, MBSR-VC and ESC-VC showed similar average improvement on the Clinical Global Impression of Severity scale (1.39 vs 1.51 points), but non-inferiority was not supported. In-person treatments had a greater impact on social anxiety than their video versions. ESC-VC received higher satisfaction ratings and had a greater effect on panic symptoms than MBSR-VC. Remotely delivered MBSR is a viable option for anxiety disorders, though social anxiety may benefit more from in-person care.
Reviews in the Neurosciences
June 3, 2026
Thomas Le François, Charlotte E Hilberdink, Bérengère Guillery-Girard et al.
Mindfulness meditation training (MMT) can reorganize the brain's functional architecture by altering resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) within and between the default mode, salience, and central executive networks. Both increases and decreases in rsFC have been observed after MMT, with differential roles in emotion regulation, stress, and cognitive functions. Changes in rsFC after MMT are linked to modifications in cognitive performance and psycho-affective measures, which may be influenced by practice duration or delivery methods. Investigating rsFC in key brain networks during rest is a promising approach to understanding how mindfulness meditation affects overall well-being.
Journal of Psychiatric Research
June 1, 2026
Amanda W Baker, Samantha R Philip, Caroline H Armstrong et al.
An 8-week course of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the medication escitalopram both improved self-compassion in 198 adults with anxiety disorders, but MBSR was not generally superior to escitalopram. Two subscales showed differences: MBSR improved Common Humanity over time while escitalopram did not, and MBSR produced greater improvement in Mindfulness from baseline to post-treatment. All domains of self-compassion improved across both groups. The findings suggest that MBSR may offer specific benefits for enhancing mindfulness and common humanity, supporting its use when improving self-relational capacities is a treatment priority.
Frontiers in Psychology
February 11, 2020
Elizabeth A Hoge, Hannah E. Reese, Isabelle A. Oliva et al.
Mindfulness-based interventions are effective for many psychological conditions, but how they work is not well understood. This study examined whether changes in negative interpretation bias—measured by a homophone task—explain the link between mindfulness and anxiety in adults with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Forty-two participants completed measures before and after Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction. Contrary to expectations, no indirect relationship was found between baseline mindfulness and anxiety through negative interpretation bias. Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction did reduce negative interpretation bias from before to after treatment, but changes in mindfulness did not relate to changes in anxiety through changes in interpretation bias. Overall, the results offer minimal support for the proposed pathway.