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Effect of meditation on clinical symptoms and gray matter volume in chronic schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial.

Mi Yang, Yuzheng Ma, Jialong Huang, Yanqing Huang, Liju Liu, Zezhi Li, Donghong Cui

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience May 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-026-02271-5 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 58
Population Han male inpatients with chronic schizophrenia at Shanghai First Civil Affairs Mental Health Centre
Intervention Meditation therapy
Duration Eight-month trial, with MRI at outset, three months, and eight months
Topics Meditation
Keywords Chronic schizophrenia Clinical symptoms Gray matter volume Insula Thalamus
Key findings Meditation significantly inhibited regional gray matter atrophy, and changes in gray matter volume in the right thalamus and insula correlated with symptom improvement.

Abstract

The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of meditation therapy in patients with schizophrenia remain poorly understood, therefore, we aim to investigate the relationship between clinical symptoms and the structural changes in brain gray matter in a meditation intervention trial. Han inpatients with schizophrenia admitted to the Shanghai First Civil Affairs Mental Health Centre in 2018 were recruited and randomly assigned to the meditation (Med) or the conventional (CON) treatment group in an eight-months trial. MRI data was collected at the outset, three months, and eight months of treatment. Fifty-eight male subjects completed all evaluations and MRI scans, including 30 in Med and 28 in CON. The findings indicate that meditation can significantly inhibit the extensive regional atrophy of gray matter volume (GMV). A positive correlation was observed between the GMV change rate in the right thalamus and the reduction rate of PANSS positive score (r = 0.3850, p = 0.0028), negative score (r = 0.3789, p = 0.0034) and total score (r = 0.3705, p = 0.0042); The GMV change rate in right insula was positively correlated with PANSS positive score (r = 0.2976, p = 0.0233), negative score (r = 0.3987, p = 0.0019), general score (r = 0.3216, p = 0.0138) and total score (r = 0.3765, p = 0.0035). Additionally, the GMV change rate in the right supplementary motor area was positively correlated with negative scores (r = 0.3633, p = 0.0051). while the right paracentral lobule positively correlated with PANSS general score (r = 0.2791, p = 0.0338). These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of meditation in chronic schizophrenia and suggest it as a promising method for the alleviation of clinical symptoms in schizophrenia.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment 2003 Randomized controlled trial n = 41
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults 2008 Randomized controlled trial n = 139
Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students 2007 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

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