A narrative review of research status and prospects of mindfulness-based interventions in schizophrenia
德猛 杨, Jianli Zhu, Huipeng Lu
Frontiers in Psychology October 12, 2026 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1930111 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that mindfulness-based interventions for schizophrenia may work through enhanced attention control and emotional regulation, with increased insular activity and reduced default mode network connectivity possibly contributing to benefits. Reports a complex relationship between mindfulness and patients' insight, self-compassion, and stigmatization, and identifies unresolved scientific questions. |
Abstract
Schizophrenia patients often experience frailty due to persistent hallucinations, delusions, negative symptoms, and social stigmatization, severely impacting their quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Recently, mindfulness intervention therapy has emerged as a supplementary treatment for residual symptoms and functional decline in schizophrenia. Numerous controlled studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses have examined the effects of mindfulness-based interventions on schizophrenia. Despite this, the mechanisms through which mindfulness affects schizophrenia remain unclear. This review incorporates qualitative research and correlation analyses to explore the relationships among mindfulness traits, psychological and neurological changes, symptom improvement, and functional enhancement, identifying unresolved scientific questions. Additionally, the article examines research findings on safety, digitalization, and mobile health. Findings indicate a complex relationship between mindfulness and patients’ insight, self-compassion, and stigmatization. Enhancing attention control and emotional regulation may underlie the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for schizophrenia. Increased insular activity and reduced default mode network connectivity might contribute to mindfulness’s potential benefits for these patients. This study offers a foundation for future mindfulness intervention programs for schizophrenia and suggests directions for further research.
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
- A meta-analysis of the association between mindfulness and motivation Frontiers in Public Health August 8, 2023
- Effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on psychotic symptoms and psychological outcomes in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Research December 1, 2024
- Eight-month intensive meditation-based intervention improves refractory hallucinations and delusions and quality of life in male inpatients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled trial. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences April 1, 2024
- Mindfulness enhancements predict aberrant salience reductions and improve stress management. Discover Mental Health April 8, 2025
- Yoga-Based Group Intervention for Inpatients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders-Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Rater-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. Schizophrenia Bulletin November 16, 2024
and 9 more in the library