The integration of Theravāda Buddhist meditation practices into psychotherapy for treating depressive disorders: conceptual framework and clinical application
Nikapitiye Nandarathana, Jay Kumar Ranjan
Mental Health Religion & Culture October 5, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2026.2691447 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Samatha Vipassanā Ānāpānasati |
| Topics | Buddhism Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Argues that integrating Theravāda Buddhist meditation practices (Samatha, Vipassanā, Ānāpānasati, and Satipaṭṭhānasutta techniques) into psychotherapy may alleviate depressive symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and enhance quality of life and psychological well-being, and recommends standardized, ethically grounded protocols for empirical evaluation. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based psychotherapeutic interventions and Buddhist meditation practices have demonstrated efficacy in managing depressive symptoms and reducing relapse rates. However, there is a notable gap in research on integrating Theravāda Buddhist meditation practices such as Samatha, Vipassanā, Ānāpānasati, and the techniques of the Satipaṭṭhānasutta within the framework of clinical psychotherapy. This review employs a narrative and conceptual synthesis of primary Buddhist sources and secondary clinical and theoretical literature to examine the potential integration of Theravāda Buddhist meditation practices into contemporary psychotherapeutic approaches to enhance the mental well-being of individuals with depressive disorders. Findings suggest that incorporating Theravāda meditation techniques into psychotherapy may alleviate depressive symptoms, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall quality of life and psychological well-being. This review recommends developing standardised, ethically grounded protocols for empirical evaluations of Theravāda Buddhist meditation practices.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and Zen Meditation for Depression, Anxiety, Pain, and Psychological Distress | 2012 | Review | |
| Measuring mindfulness | 2011 | Review | |
| The Influence of Buddhist Meditation Traditions on the Autonomic System and Attention | 2015 | Review | |
| Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances | 2014 | Review | |
| Positive Psychology and Buddhism | 2023 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cites 53
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation Perspectives on Psychological Science October 10, 2017
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2012
- Loving-kindness and compassion meditation: potential for psychological interventions. Clinical Psychology Review July 26, 2011
and 48 more in the library