Effects of mindfulness-based interventions on insight and stigma in patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Xiaoxin Gao, Lixiu Wu, Guolin Jin, Kunqiang Yu, Xufang Yu
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1655057 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,899 |
| Population | Patients with schizophrenia |
| Interventions | mindfulness-based stress reduction mindfulness-based cognitive therapy group mindfulness therapy mindfulness-informed psychoeducation/skills training |
| Duration | 4 to 24 weeks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Insight Meta-analysis Mindfulness-based intervention Schizophrenia Stigma |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions significantly improved insight and reduced stigma in patients with schizophrenia compared to control conditions. |
Abstract
To systematically evaluate the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on insight and stigma in patients with schizophrenia. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on insight and stigma in schizophrenia patients were retrieved from databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science, with the search period spanning from inception to June 2025. Statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software, with effect sizes expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic: a random-effects model was applied when I² ≥ 50% or P < 0.05; otherwise, a fixed-effects model was used. To evaluate the impact of study design on pooled effects, a case-deletion sensitivity analysis was conducted. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger's test. Intervention types included mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, group mindfulness therapy, and mindfulness-informed psychoeducation/skills training, with intervention durations ranging from 4 to 24 weeks. A total of 11 RCTs and 2 quasi-randomized controlled trials involving 2,899 patients were included. The analysis revealed that the intervention group exhibited significantly better insight (SMD=1.05, 95% CI=0.67-1.43, P < 0.00001) and lower stigma (SMD=-0.81, 95% CI=-1.00 to -0.63, P < 0.00001) compared to the control group. Mindfulness-based interventions can significantly improve insight and reduce stigma in patients with schizophrenia, holding important clinical implications. Specifically, they may enhance treatment adherence and rehabilitation participation, decrease self-stigma, and promote the restoration of social functioning. Higher-quality, long-term follow-up randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still needed to further validate and refine the evidence. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, PROSPERO identifier CRD420251172478.
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
Cites 9
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Psychosis. Psychiatric Clinics of North America September 1, 2025
- The relationship between mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and symptom severity in persons with schizophrenia-spectrum-disorders: a cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports June 4, 2025
- The Relationship Between Trait Mindfulness and Depression Severity Among People With Schizophrenia: The Role of Perceived Public Stigma Toward Mental Illness Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association January 30, 2025
- Classification of mindfulness experiences from gamma-band effective connectivity: Application of machine-learning algorithms on resting, breathing, and body scan. Computer methods and programs in biomedicine December 1, 2024
- Mixed-Mode Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for psychological resilience, Self Esteem and Stigma of patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry March 4, 2024
and 4 more in the library