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Neural effects of mindfulness-based interventions on patients with major depressive disorder: A systematic review.

Philippe Vignaud, Clément Donde, Thouraya Sadki, Emmanuel Poulet, Jérôme Brunelin

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews May 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.03.004 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Systematic review Peer reviewed
Population Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD)
Intervention Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs)
Topics Depression Meditation
Keywords EEG Electroencephalography Neuroimaging
Key findings The review reports that mindfulness-based interventions modulate activity in brain regions implicated in MDD, including the prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and parietal cortex, which are involved in self-awareness, attention, and emotion regulation. Some findings were consistent with effects seen in healthy subjects and patients with other psychiatric disorders, especially enhanced frontal and subcortical activity related to improved somatosensory awareness. The authors conclude that further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of MBIs in MDD.

Abstract

Growing evidence has suggested that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could have beneficial effects on the acute phase of depression and on the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence. Despite growing clinical interest, the effects of MBIs on brain functioning in patients with MDD remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the changes in brain functioning associated with MBIs in patients with MDD. A systematic search was conducted, and of the 56 articles found, 8 were eligible. MBIs have modulatory effects on several brain regions implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD, such as the prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and the parietal cortex. These regions have been implicated in self-awareness, attention and emotion regulation. Some of these findings were consistent with the effects of MBIs observed in healthy subjects and patients with other psychiatric disorders, especially enhanced activity in the frontal and subcortical regions related to the improved somatosensory awareness. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of MBIs in MDD.

Comparable studies

Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Ketamine and Other NMDA Antagonists: Early Clinical Trials and Possible Mechanisms in Depression Participants with major depression in placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized... 2015 Systematic review and meta-analysis
Side-effects associated with ketamine use in depression: a systematic review. Patients with depression 2018 Systematic review
Comparative efficacy of racemic ketamine and esketamine for depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis Adults with unipolar or bipolar major depression 2020 Systematic review and meta-analysis n = 1,877
Single-dose infusion ketamine and non-ketamine N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists for unipolar and bipolar depression: a meta-analysis of efficacy, safety and time trajectories Patients with major depressive disorder or bipolar depression 2016 Systematic review and meta-analysis n = 588
Therapeutic effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review of modern‐era clinical studies Patients with cancer- or illness-related anxiety and depression, major depressive... 2020 Systematic review n = 188

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