Effectiveness of mindfulness based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms across mental disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Ekin Alkan, Geetanjali Kumar, Shreya Ravichandran, Samiksha Rakesh Kaushal, Gonzalo Salazar-De-Pablo, Livia Alerci, Joelle Michaud-Feinberg, Luis Gutiérrez-Rojas, Carline Zorzi, Paul Klauser, Philippe Golay, Ueli Kramer, Luis Alameda
Psychiatry Research June 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116473 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Clinical samples aged 18–65 from 12 diagnostic categories |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Dialectical Behavioural Therapy |
| Topics | Meditation Depression |
| Keywords | Depressive symptoms Mindfulness-based treatments Psychiatric disorders Transdiagnostic |
| Citations | 11 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions are efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms across psychiatric disorders compared to active control conditions. |
Abstract
Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly recognised for their efficacy in treating depressive disorders. Depressive symptoms are prevalent across various disorders and can significantly impact outcomes, therefore being an important transdiagnostic target. Multiple randomized controlled Trials (RCTs) have explored this question in discrete disorders; however, evidence has never been meta-analysed transdiagnostically. The Prospero-registered (CRD42022352046) systematic review has been conducted on EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsychINFO using terms related to Randomised controlled trials, mindfulness and depression in clinical samples aged between 18 and 65. Random-effects models were performed to assess the effectiveness of MBIs, including Mindfulness based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), on depressive symptoms transdiagnostically. We conducted sensitivity, heterogeneity analyses, publication bias assessments, meta-regressions and assessed quality. Thirty-five studies, including participants from 12 different diagnostic categories, were included. The results revealed that MBCT, ACT, DBT and others are efficacious in treating depressive symptoms across psychiatric diagnoses compared to active control conditions, all with significant effect sizes. MBIs are effective in reducing depressive symptoms across psychiatric disorders. They should be considered as a potential cost-effective tool to be systematically implemented, not only in those with depression but across mental health disorders.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Mindfulness-based Interventions for Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Annals of Neurosciences July 19, 2025
- Psychological trajectories following brief mindfulness training: a longitudinal comparison of active and passive controls Frontiers in Psychology August 26, 2026
- A conceptual metacognitive mindfulness model for enhancing resilience and mental well-being among firefighters Discover Public Health March 17, 2026
- The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety and depression among students: a systematic review and meta-analysis Clinical Psychologist February 9, 2026
- Effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for depressive symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders August 26, 2026
and 2 more in the library
Cites 21
- Mindfulness‐based approaches: are they all the same? Journal of Clinical Psychology January 19, 2011
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study Behaviour Research and Therapy February 13, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Theory and Practice The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry February 1, 2012
- Relative effectiveness of augmentation treatments for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis International Review of Psychiatry June 5, 2020
- The effect of mindfulness group therapy on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms: A randomised controlled trial in primary health care European Psychiatry February 8, 2017
and 16 more in the library