The effect and neural changes underlying mindfulness meditation training in patients with comorbid internet gaming disorder and depression: A randomized clinical trial.
Xuefeng Xu, Huabin Wang, Shaoyu Cui, Chang Liu, Xiaolan Song, Guang-Heng Dong
Translational Psychiatry February 18, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-026-03837-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 70 |
| Population | Patients with internet gaming disorder and depression |
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Progressive muscle relaxation |
| Duration | 1-month study, 8 training sessions |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation reduced depression, addiction, and cravings more than progressive muscle relaxation in patients with IGD-D, and altered functional connectivity in brain networks linked to control and emotion regulation. |
Abstract
Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been recognized as a serious mental illness and is often accompanied by depression (IGD-D). An ideal treatment strategy should have effects on both the conditions. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has attracted substantial attention for the treatment of psychiatric diseases; however, its effects on IGD-D and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. A total of 70 patients with IGD-D were randomly divided into the MM and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) groups. Of these patients, 61 completed the 1-month study (MM group, n = 34; PMR group, n = 27), including pre- and post-resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and 8 training sessions. Regional homogeneity and degree centrality were calculated, and overlapping brain regions were selected as seed points for functional connectivity (FC) analysis. The correlation of FC with behavioral data and neurotransmitters was subsequently evaluated. Compared with the PMR group, the MM group had less severe depression, addiction, and cravings. FC analysis showed that MM increased FC in the executive control, frontal-striatal, and default mode networks. FC was significantly correlated with 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1 A receptor, serotonin transporter, vesicular acetylcholine transporter and dopamine receptors D1 and D2. This study demonstrated that MM was effective in the treatment of IGD-D. MM altered the default mode network, enhanced top-down control, and emotion regulation, and disrupted negative reinforcement mechanisms. These phenomena were supported by the correlation between FC and behavioral as well as biochemical measures, suggesting that MM is a promising therapy for IGD-D.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Regulates Brain Connectivity in Patients With Late-Life Depression. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022
- Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Intervention on Depressive Symptoms in Emerging Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine 2022
- Meditation interventions efficiently reduce cortisol levels of at-risk samples: a meta-analysis Health Psychology Review July 7, 2020
and 4 more in the library