Abstract
(1) Background: There is increasing interest in the practice of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) to treat people with schizophrenia, as evidenced by the publication of different randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, no meta-analysis of RCTs has been carried out to date with the exclusive inclusion of this type of interventions. (2) Objective: To analyze empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of MBIs for the improvement of clinical parameters associated with schizophrenia. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted of RCTs published in the databases PsycINFO, PubMed, WOS, and Cochrane Library. (3) Results: A total of 10 articles (n = 1094) fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the review. The analysis of these studies suggests that MBIs combined with standard interventions are able to generate significant improvements in a variety of clinical schizophrenia-related parameters, such as the intensity of overall symptomatology (g = 0.72), positive symptoms (g = 0.32), negative symptoms (g = 0.40), functioning level (g = 1.28), and awareness of illness (g = 0.65). (4) Conclusions: There is evidence that supports the effectiveness and safety of MBIs for the treatment of people with schizophrenia. The results obtained by MBIs are comparable to those obtained by cognitive-behavioral therapy for psychosis. However, given the heterogeneity of the applied interventions and the methodological limitations found in the reviewed trials, the results should be interpreted with caution.
Highlights
The term mindfulness refers to, at least, two different concepts: (a) a meta-cognitive exercise which involves bringing sustained and intentional attention to experiencing the present moment, while diminishing the emotional and cognitive reactivity generated by the experience or (b) a state of consciousness characterized by the detached observation of one’s thoughts and feelings [1]
Studies were included if: (1) they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published as articles; (2) the participants were exclusively adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or related disorders according to the two main diagnostic manuals, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Statistical
Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), in their different versions; (3) the intervention group consisted of an mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in a format similar to the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program; (4) the control group consisted of a waitlist or treatment as usual (TAU); (5) the results reported about psychological variables directly or indirectly related to schizophrenia
Summary
The term mindfulness refers to, at least, two different concepts: (a) a meta-cognitive exercise which involves bringing sustained and intentional attention to experiencing the present moment, while diminishing the emotional and cognitive reactivity generated by the experience or (b) a state of consciousness characterized by the detached observation of one’s thoughts and feelings [1]. Mindfulness mainly comes from the vipassana meditation of Buddhist tradition and plays a central role within the framework of a conceptual and applied system whose ultimate aim is the cessation of suffering [2]. It was introduced in the Western world with a secular approach, disassociated from any religious or cultural tradition, as a technique oriented toward promoting the quality of life of people with high stress levels associated with chronic illnesses of a physical type [3]. Mindfulness has been extended for therapeutic purposes to other health conditions, mainly due to its beneficial. Public Health 2020, 17, 4690; doi:10.3390/ijerph17134690 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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