Mindfulness-based stress reduction for long-term physical conditions: A systematic review.
Study Goal
To determine whether mindfulness-based stress reduction improves physical health outcomes for long-term physical conditions.
Results Summary
The review found no significant improvements in physical health status in low-risk-of-bias studies, but preliminary evidence suggests benefits for pain conditions, primary insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome, with small to moderate effects for asthma, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, and somatization disorders.
Population
Individuals with long-term physical conditions (e.g., pain, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, somatization disorders).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | pain conditions | - | - | may be useful | #1 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | primary insomnia | - | - | may also be effective in improving | #2 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | irritable bowel syndrome | - | - | may also be effective in improving | #3 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | asthma | - | Small to moderate | Small to moderate effect sizes were also found for | #4 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | pain | - | Small to moderate | Small to moderate effect sizes were also found for | #5 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | tinnitus | - | Small to moderate | Small to moderate effect sizes were also found for | #6 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | fibromyalgia | - | Small to moderate | Small to moderate effect sizes were also found for | #7 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | increase | somatization disorders | - | Small to moderate | Small to moderate effect sizes were also found for | #8 |
mindfulness-based stress reduction | no change | physical health status | studies assessed as having a low risk of bias | no significant change | demonstrated no significant improvements | #9 |
OBJECTIVE: To identify whether mindfulness-based stress reduction is effective in improving physical health outcomes for long-term physical conditions. METHOD: A systematic review of the literature (retrieved from MEDLINE, PubMed and PsycINFO). RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included in the review. None of the studies assessed as having a low risk of bias demonstrated significant improvements in physical health status although there was some emerging evidence that mindfulness-based stress reduction may be useful in pain conditions. There was some preliminary evidence that it may also be effective in improving primary insomnia and irritable bowel syndrome. Small to moderate effect sizes were also found for asthma, pain, tinnitus, fibromyalgia and somatization disorders. CONCLUSION: Although there is some preliminary support for the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction in physical health conditions, further research is required before it could be considered an effective intervention for improving physical health outcomes.