A systematic review on mindfulness-based immersive interventions in depressive disorders
Peng Tan, Yuqi Wu, Xinrong Chen, Jie Chen, Zhixing Guo, Xiaobing Lu, Hongtao Zhang
npj Mental Health Research April 2, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s44184-026-00205-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 37 |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Psychological intervention Rumination Neurocognitive Cognition Systematic review Depressive symptoms Clinical trial Medline Clinical psychology Psychotherapist Affect linguistics Disease |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based immersive interventions (MBIIs) were associated with greater improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms compared with conventional therapies in 69% of included studies. |
Abstract
Depressive disorders are characterized by persistent negative affect, rumination, and impaired emotion regulation, contributing substantially to global disease burden. As recurrent rumination and negative attentional biases are central cognitive mechanisms of depression, interventions targeting these processes have gained increasing attention. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) effectively treat depressive disorders but face adherence challenges, which immersive technology may resolve through multi-sensory stimulation and real-time feedback. This systematic review assesses the therapeutic potential of mindfulness-based immersive interventions (MBIIs, which combine immersive technologies with MBIs) for depressive disorders. Following PRISMA guidelines, we identified 37 eligible studies from 670 screened records. Across the included studies, a proportion of studies (69%) reported greater improvements in depressive and anxiety-related symptoms in MBII conditions compared with conventional therapies, while 78% of the trials reported improvements in psychological processes. A subset of trials reported greater feasibility and acceptance for immersive implementations compared with non-immersive approaches (67%), and 89% reported improvements in physiological outcomes. However, significant gaps remain, including substantial variability in sessions and VR configurations, insufficient active controls, and limited long-term validation. Future research is recommended to prioritize mechanistic studies to clarify neurocognitive pathways, standardize sessions, and evaluate cost-effectiveness.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Understanding the role of rhythm: Effects of VR-based breathing meditation on anxiety, stress, and mindfulness Computers in Human Behavior Reports June 16, 2026
- A Self-Guided Mobile Mindfulness Intervention Embedded in Daily Routines for Adults With Mild to Moderate Psychological Distress: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health July 15, 2026
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- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for the treatment of current depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis Cognitive Behaviour Therapy February 8, 2019
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and 27 more in the library