Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 68, Issue 6 , Pages 539-544, June 2010

The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy on mental health of adults with a chronic medical disease: A meta-analysis

  • Ernst Bohlmeijer

      Affiliations

    • University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Psychology and Communication of Health and Risk, University of Twente, Citadel, room 401, Postbus 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 53 489 2918.
    • ,
  • Rilana Prenger

      Affiliations

    • University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Erik Taal

      Affiliations

    • University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Pim Cuijpers

      Affiliations

    • VU University, Amsterdam

Received 10 February 2009; accepted 15 October 2009. published online 10 December 2009.

Abstract 

Objectives

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on depression, anxiety and psychological distress across populations with different chronic somatic diseases.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to examine the effects of MBSR on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress. The influence of quality of studies on the effects of MBSR was analyzed.

Results

Eight published, randomized controlled outcome studies were included. An overall effect size on depression of 0.26 was found, indicating a small effect of MBSR on depression. The effect size for anxiety was 0.47. However, quality of the studies was found to moderate this effect size. When the studies of lower quality were excluded, an effect size of 0.24 on anxiety was found. A small effect size (0.32) was also found for psychological distress.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that MBSR has small effects on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in people with chronic somatic diseases. Integrating MBSR in behavioral therapy may enhance the efficacy of mindfulness based interventions.

Keywords: Mindfulness, Mental health, Depression, Chronic medical disease, Meta-analysis

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PII: S0022-3999(09)00415-2

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.10.005

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 68, Issue 6 , Pages 539-544, June 2010

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