The use of Buddhist mindfulness meditation in psychotherapy: A case report from Sri Lanka
Transcultural Psychiatry October 20, 2011 DOI: 10.1177/1363461511418394 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A client with depressive disorder in Sri Lanka |
| Interventions | Theravadan Buddhist mindfulness meditation Cognitive therapy |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Citations | 25 |
| Key findings | Describes a case in which Theravadan Buddhist mindfulness meditation and cognitive therapy practices were used together to treat a client with depressive disorder. The authors also contend that Buddhist doctrine and practices can be considered a psychotherapeutic method, and note that such practices are poorly documented in Sri Lankan psychotherapy. |
Abstract
Buddhist practices have been increasingly influencing psychotherapy. For over 20 centuries, Buddhism has been the religion of a majority of Sri Lankans. However, there is little documentation of the use of Buddhist practices in psychotherapy in Sri Lanka. This paper presents a case study in which Theravadan Buddhist mindfulness meditation and cognitive therapy practices were used in the treatment of a client with depressive disorder. The paper also summarizes the influence of Buddhist concepts and mindfulness meditation on psychotherapy and illustrate how Buddhist doctrine and practices can be considered a psychotherapeutic method.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integrating Time-Limited Dynamic Psychotherapy and a Buddhism-Inspired Aversion/Attachment Model of Client Suffering: The Cases of "Beth" and "Amy" Two psychotherapy clients, "Beth" and "Amy" | 2016 | Case study | n = 2 |
| The DSC Triangle Model of Buddhist Palliative Care: Doctrine, Spiritual Pillar, and Community at Wat Kham Pramong Five care-team informants and five terminal cancer patients at Wat Kham Pramong, Sakon... | 2026 | Qualitative case study | n = 10 |
| Model Implementasi Spiritual Mindfulness untuk Penguatan Mental Health Remaja di Sekolah Islam Adolescents in two Islamic high schools in Gresik, Indonesia | 2026 | Qualitative multiple case study | |
| “Science” in Huayan Buddhism: The Apologetic Discourse of Zhong Maosen (b. 1973) | 2026 | Case study | |
| IMPACTS OF MINDFULNESS ON CONCENTRATION: A SELF-REPORT OF A 20-DAY PRACTICE OF MEDITATIVE WALKING A single practitioner | 2025 | Case study | n = 1 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Respiratory function in healthy long-term meditators: A cross-sectional comparative study Heliyon July 22, 2023
- Defining Bhāvanā through the PAL framework: grounded theory insights from long-term IAM®-35 practitioners Humanities and Social Sciences Communications September 25, 2025
- Traditional Buddhist Mindfulness versus Secular Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Residual Depressive Symptoms in Patients Treated for Depressive Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Research Square February 26, 2026
- The Mindful Path to Nursing Accuracy: A Quasi-Experimental Study on Minimizing Medication Administration Errors. Holistic Nursing Practice May 1, 2021
Cites 6
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
- Buddhist psychology, psychotherapy and the brain: a critical introduction. Transcultural Psychiatry March 2008
and 1 more in the library