Effect of mindfulness on anxiety and depression in insomnia patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Hangyu Li, Wanli Qin, Nannan Li, Shixing Feng, Junqi Wang, Yuan Zhang, Tianyi Wang, Chenlu Wang, Xuanyi Cai, Wen Sun, Yang Song, Dongran Han, Yixing Liu
Frontiers in Psychiatry March 2, 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1124344 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,058 |
| Population | People with insomnia and anxiety-depressive symptoms |
| Intervention | Mindfulness therapy |
| Duration | 4–12 weeks |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Insomnia Meta-analysis |
| Key findings | Adding 4–12 weeks of mindfulness therapy to conventional treatment significantly reduced depression and anxiety scores in people with insomnia and anxiety-depressive symptoms. |
Abstract
BackgroundAs a common clinical symptom, insomnia has a high incidence of combined mental illness and it is also a risk factor for the development of depression, anxiety and suicide. As a new concept in the field of health in recent years, mindfulness therapy can improve insomnia, anxiety and depression, which is a new way to solve such diseases.ObjectiveThis study aims to systematically evaluate the effects of mindfulness compared with conventional treatment on scores of the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) in people with insomnia and anxiety-depressive symptoms.MethodsArticles published before October 2022 were searched from seven databases and included in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate mindfulness therapy. The assessment tool of Cochrane bias risk was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the literature. The main outcome indicators were HAMD and HAMA scores, and the secondary outcome indicators were SDS and SAS scores.ResultsTen randomized controlled trials including 1,058 subjects were systematically evaluated and meta-analyzed in this study. In the main outcome indicators, there was a significant difference between mindfulness therapy and conventional treatment in reducing HAMD score (MD: −3.67, 95% CI: −5.22–2.11, p < 0.01) and HAMA score (MD: −3.23, 95% CI: −3.90–2.57, p < 0.01). In the secondary outcome indicators, mindfulness therapy also showed a significant difference in reducing SDS scores (MD: −6.49, 95% CI: −6.86–6.11, p < 0.01) and SAS scores (MD: −7.97, 95% CI: −9.68–6.27, p < 0.01) compared with conventional treatment.ConclusionFor the people with insomnia, anxiety and depression, the use of conventional treatment with the addition of 4–12 weeks of mindfulness treatment can significantly improve anxiety and depression symptoms of patients. This is a new diagnosis and treatment idea recommended for insomniacs with or without anxiety and depression symptoms. Due to the methodological defects in the included study and the limited sample size of this paper, more well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed for verification.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The effects of mindfulness-based techniques on self-rumination, cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression among patients with major depression: a nursing perspective. Journal of Research in Nursing August 1, 2024
- Meditation: Philosophical Foundations and its Role in Managing Common Noncommunicable Diseases. Indian Journal of Community Medicine February 1, 2026
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Effect of meditation on psychological distress and brain functioning: A randomized controlled study Brain and Cognition August 1, 2018
- Yoga, mindfulness-based stress reduction and stress-related physiological measures: A meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology December 2017
- Mechanisms of Mindfulness Training: Monitor and Acceptance Theory (MAT) Clinical Psychology Review November 5, 2016
- Effects of Transcendental Meditation practice on brain functioning and stress reactivity in college students. International Journal of Psychophysiology February 1, 2009
and 1 more in the library