The Mechanisms of Mindfulness in the Treatment of Mental Illness and Addiction.
Edo Shonin, William van Gordon
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction May 13, 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s11469-016-9653-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation Addiction |
| Keywords | Interventions Mental illness Mechanisms of action Addiction treatment Second-generation mindfulness-based |
| Key findings | Argues that mindfulness targets biological, psychological, social, and spiritual determinants of psychopathology, and that the mechanisms involved likely vary by intervention type (first- versus second-generation), clinical disorder, participant background, and instructor embodiment of mindful living. |
Abstract
Consistent with its growing popularity amongst the general public and medical community, throughout recent decades there have been increasing attempts to understand the mechanisms that underlie therapeutic improvement in individuals receiving mindfulness training. The current paper draws upon findings from various remits of scientific enquiry and summarises key evidence-based mechanisms of mindfulness that have been proposed in the academic literature to date. Empirical findings indicate that mindfulness targets biological, psychological, social, and spiritual psychopathology determinants. Furthermore, the mechanistic pathways exploited by mindfulness are likely to vary according to factors such as (i) the type of mindfulness-based intervention that is administered (e.g., first- or second-generation mindfulness-based interventions), (ii) the specific clinical disorder that is being targeted, (iii) the educational, social, and spiritual history of the participant, and (iv) the extent to which the mindfulness instructor truly embodies the principles of mindful living. It is hoped that the mechanisms of mindfulness discussed in this paper will contribute to the formulation of a more complete picture that can be tested and expanded upon during future scientific enquiry.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Mindfulness meditation–based pain relief: a mechanistic account | 2016 | Review | |
| Psychedelics as anti-inflammatory agents Animal models and cellular studies | 2018 | Review | |
| A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. | 2013 | Review | |
| The neuropsychopharmacology of cannabis: A review of human imaging studies | 2018 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 15
- Dual pathways linking mindfulness to life satisfaction and depression: the mediating roles of self-compassion and rumination in Chinese university students. BMC Psychology May 27, 2025
- Mindfulness and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Implications for Psychological Intervention JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY July 1, 2018
- Pengaruh Mindfulness Terhadap Depresi Remaja Indonesian Journal of Nursing Scientific June 30, 2023
- Bases biológicas del mindfulness y su aplicación en la práctica clínica Universitas Médica August 12, 2022
- The Role of Mindfulness in Treating Addictive Disorders and Rehabilitation International Journal of Psychology & Behavior Analysis November 21, 2018
and 10 more in the library
Cites 11
- Mechanisms of mindfulness Journal of Clinical Psychology December 29, 2005
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- An empirical study of the mechanisms of mindfulness in a mindfulness‐based stress reduction program Journal of Clinical Psychology March 6, 2009
- A narrative review of yoga and mindfulness as complementary therapies for addiction. Complementary Therapies in Medicine June 1, 2013
and 6 more in the library