Mindfulness meditation reduces symptoms and modulates neural circuitry in comorbid internet gaming disorder and depression.
Xin Luo, Huabin Wang, Xuefeng Xu, Meiting Wei, Haosen Ni, Shuang Li, Chang Liu, Xiaolan Song, Marc N Potenza, Guang-Heng Dong
PNAS Nexus September 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf277 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Individuals with co-occurring internet gaming disorder and depression |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Progressive muscle relaxation |
| Duration | Eight-session intervention |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Craving Internet gaming disorder Mindfulness meditation Progressive muscle relaxation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation decreased gaming and depression severity and altered brain responses in regions related to executive control, craving, and reward processing compared to progressive muscle relaxation. |
Abstract
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) frequently co-occurs with depression. IGD and depression have overlapping and distinct biological and psychological substrates. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has demonstrated efficacy in treating IGD and depression separately. However, its efficacy in treating concurrent IGD and depression and the possible brain mechanisms remain largely unknown. Seventy individuals with co-occurring IGD and depression were recruited. Fifty-nine (32 receiving MM and 27 receiving progressive muscle relaxation [PMR]) completed experimental procedures including pre- and posttests (cue-craving task) and eight-session MM or PMR. Behavioral and brain measures were compared using ANOVAs. Functional connectivity (FC) was assessed among survived brain regions to explore brain coupling changes associated with MM. Relative to the PMR, MM demonstrated decreased gaming and depression severity. MM was associated with decreased bilateral brain activations in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) and increased brain activation in the left lentiform when facing gaming cues. Increased FC between the MFG and PHG, and decreased FC between the PHG and lentiform were observed following MM. PMR was associated with similar effects less robustly. MM could be an efficacious treatment strategy for individuals with co-occurring IGD and depression. MM was associated with decreased brain responses previously implicated in executive control and gaming craving and decreased coupling between regions implicated in reward processing.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Mindfulness-based and mindfulness-informed interventions for internet use disorders in adolescents and young adults: A three-level random-effects meta-analysis Journal of Behavioral Addictions September 18, 2026
- Integrating Yoga and Mindfulness in the Management of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions. Current Psychiatry Reports September 9, 2026
- A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Internet Gaming Disorder Among College-Aged Students in South Korea Mindfulness June 1, 2026
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and 10 more in the library