Mindfulness meditation for Chinese patients with psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
T. J. Tao, C. Hui, Bertha S. T. Lam, E. Ho, Priscilla Wing Man Hui, Y. Suen, J. Lin, A. C. Y. Tong, E. Lee, S. Chan, W. Chang, E. Chen
Schizophrenia Research September 9, 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.08.033 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1,749 |
| Population | Chinese patients with psychosis |
| Intervention | Mindfulness meditation |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation improved insight, rehospitalization duration, recovery rate, and social functioning in Chinese patients with psychosis. |
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation (MM) and its alignment with the mind-body perspective of health in Chinese cultures indicate its potential to benefit Chinese patients with psychosis. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to address the following questions: (1) Does MM improve clinical, well-being, and third-wave outcomes (i.e., mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion levels) among Chinese patients with psychosis? (2) What are the patient- and/or intervention-specific factors that moderate the efficacy of MM? (3) Are improvements on third-wave outcomes associated with improvements on clinical and well-being outcomes? (4) What are the mechanisms underlying the effects of MM? Evidence synthesized from 23 relevant articles (20 studies) involving 1749 patients showed that (1) MM improved a wide range of patients' outcomes, most consistently and sustainably for insight, rehospitalization duration, recovery rate, and social functioning; (2) age and duration of illness, but not the cumulated intervention hours, moderated the overall efficacy of MM; (3) post-MM improvements on mindfulness and on clinical and well-being outcomes were related, and (4) the effects of MM on patients' outcomes may be driven by its ability to promote positive changes in personal growth and enhance one's coping with the illness and its symptoms. Our data showed preliminary support for the benefits of MM in Chinese patients with psychosis. However, results should be considered in light of the varying quality of included studies and their heterogeneity in multiple aspects. Further research is needed to deduce the sustainability of MM's effects, its active ingredients, underlying mechanisms, and additional moderators of its efficacy.
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
Cited by 9
- Mindfulness and Behavioural Insights Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change November 30, 2022
- Effects of mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic meta-review. Schizophrenia Research July 1, 2025
- Liberation or Dissociation? Cultural Mediation and Embodied Development in the Interpretation of Jīvanmukti Culture & Psychology September 4, 2026
- Mindfulness Training to Reduce Anxiety in Socially Isolated Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Case Study OBM Neurobiology September 15, 2025
- Barriers and Facilitators to Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Qualitative Inquiry to Inform Intervention Design Mindfulness August 21, 2026
and 4 more in the library
Cites 9
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Mindfulness Meditation and Psychopathology Annual Review of Clinical Psychology December 11, 2018
- An international multi-site, randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness-based psychoeducation group programme for people with schizophrenia Psychological Medicine April 4, 2017
- EMPIRICAL MINDFULNESS: TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND MENTAL HEALTH IN THE SCIENCE AND RELIGION DIALOGUE Zygon December 3, 2025
- Meditation-based mind-body therapies for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis. Schizophrenia Research October 1, 2019
and 4 more in the library