Mindfulness as Adjuvant Treatment for Obsessive‐Compulsive Disorder: An Integrative Review
Lucas Cruz Torres, Francisco Filho, Tainah Pereira, Pedro Pinheiro, Vitória Lima, Giliara de Luna
Revista Portuguesa de Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental June 16, 2023 DOI: 10.51338/rppsm.290 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Integrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 11 |
| Population | Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognitive behavioral therapy Obsessive‐compulsive disorder/therapy Treatment outcome |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy shows promise as a complementary treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, especially in improving self-awareness of symptoms. |
Abstract
Obsessive‐compulsive disorder is characterized by the presence of obsessions and/or compulsions. Standard treatment, although effective in improving symptoms, in more severe cases may not be sufficient. The objective of this study was to identify in the literature data on the effectiveness of Mindfulness as a complementary treatment in reducing symptoms in patients with obsessive‐compulsive disorder. This integrative review was performed in Medline, Lilacs, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. A total of 135 results were found, of which only 11 articles were used after applying the duplicate exclusion and eligibility criteria. Thus, we identified that mindfulness ‐based cognitive therapy (MBCT) when compared to more traditional treatments, such as cognitive‐behavioral therapy, showed promise, especially in improving self‐awareness regarding the symptoms of the disorder. However, studies with longer exposure time and with more specific variables need to be designed to verify the longterm efficacy of MBCT, especially in more severe and older patients.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical populations | 2003 | Review | |
| Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects | 2007 | Review | |
| Mindfulness Interventions | 2016 | Review | |
| Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation | 2017 | Review | |
| Mindfulness and acceptance: expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 9
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: Further issues in current evidence and future research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 1, 2008
- A Pilot Study of the Effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Positive Affect and Social Anxiety Symptoms Frontiers in Psychology June 1, 2018
- Efficacy of mindfulness-integrated cognitive behavior therapy in patients with predominant obsessions Indian Journal of Psychiatry March 11, 2026
- [Mindfulness-based interventions in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Mechanisms of action and presentation of a pilot study]. L'Encephale December 2017
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as an augmentation treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy September 2017
and 4 more in the library