Integrating Yoga and Mindfulness in the Management of Internet Gaming Disorder: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Directions.
Current Psychiatry Reports September 9, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-026-01717-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement Progressive Muscle Relaxation |
| Duration | Three-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | The authors conclude that yoga and mindfulness-based interventions show meaningful potential as adjunctive treatments for Internet Gaming Disorder, especially combined with CBT. They report that mindfulness meditation consistently outperformed Progressive Muscle Relaxation in reducing IGD severity, Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement produced durable reductions at three-month follow-up, and integrated yoga modules improved IGD symptoms, psychological distress, and attentional control in adolescents. They call for multi-site randomized trials with standardized outcome measures and extended follow-up to establish standalone efficacy. |
Abstract
Purpose of review: Despite Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) remaining the frontline treatment for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), the therapeutic potential of yoga and mindfulness-based interventions (YBIs/MBIs) remains incompletely synthesized. This narrative review evaluates their efficacy in reducing IGD symptoms and associated psychosocial outcomes, while identifying underlying therapeutic mechanisms and research gaps. Recent findings: Across the literature, mindfulness meditation consistently outperformed Progressive Muscle Relaxation in reducing IGD severity, supported by neuroimaging evidence of improved prefrontal-striatal connectivity. Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement produced durable symptom reductions at three-month follow-up, while integrated yoga modules yielded broad improvements across IGD symptoms, psychological distress, and attentional control in adolescents. YBIs/MBIs demonstrate meaningful potential as adjunctive IGD treatments, particularly when integrated with CBT, with notable cultural adaptability across school and clinical settings. Future research should prioritize multi-site RCTs, standardized outcome batteries, and extended follow-up to establish standalone efficacy.
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 14
- What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- On some definitions of mindfulness Contemporary Buddhism May 1, 2011
- Investigating the Effectiveness of a Virtual-Reality-Based Mindfulness Intervention on Internet Gaming Disorder Behavioral Sciences November 27, 2024
- Transformative Effects of Mindfulness Meditation Training on the Dynamic Reconfiguration of Executive and Default Mode Networks in Internet Gaming Disorder. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science July 1, 2025
- Both online and face-to-face mindfulness meditation can change cortical structure in internet gaming disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research October 1, 2025
and 9 more in the library