Mindfulness-Based Interventions in People with Psychotic Disorders: An Overview of the State of Research Concerning Efficacy and Implications for Clinical Practice

Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) represent a central pillar of the third wave of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In recent years, MBI have been implemented in treating patients with psychotic disorders, and their efficacy has been evaluated in a small number of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs). This narrative review presents the current state of research on the efficacy and effectiveness, as well as central aspects of the clinical applications of MBI in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia and primary psychotic disorders. Current meta-analyses show different results but concur that in comparison to controls with treatment-as-usual (TAU) and in Pre-Post-Analyses, MBI show promising results in reducing the, in regards to pharmacotherapy, difficult to treat negative (g = 0.56 and g = 0.75) and positive symptoms (g = 0.19 and g = 0.32) with effect sizes between small and large. In addition, MBI can lead to positive effects on depressive and anxiety symptoms (g = 0.20 and g = 0.43) and contribute to a long-term reduction in re-hospitalization rates 12 months post-discharge and a shortening of the duration of inpatient treatment. In contrast to psychotherapy research from the UK, Australia, and Hong Kong, the scientific evaluation and implementation of mindfulness-based treatment options in the entire German-speaking area are still in the early stages.