A narrative review of mindfulness-based therapy for schizophrenia, co-occurring substance use and comorbid cardiometabolic problems.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the literature on mindfulness-based interventions for schizophrenia and comorbid conditions like substance use disorder and cardiometabolic problems.
Results Summary
MBT improved psychotic symptoms, emotion regulation, re-hospitalization rates, and illness insight in schizophrenia, as well as craving in substance use disorder, eating behaviors in obesity, and metabolic regulation in diabetes. Increased insula and anterior cingulate cortex activity may underlie these benefits.
Population
Patients with schizophrenia, substance use disorder, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes.
Effective Dosage
Not available
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) | decrease | psychotic symptoms | patients with schizophrenia | - | demonstrates improvements | #1 |
Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) | increase | emotion regulation | patients with schizophrenia | - | demonstrates improvements | #2 |
Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) | decrease | re-hospitalization rates | patients with schizophrenia | - | demonstrates improvements | #3 |
Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) | increase | insight into illness | patients with schizophrenia | - | demonstrates improvements | #4 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | craving | patients with substance use disorder | - | can improve | #5 |
mindfulness-based interventions | improve | eating related behaviors | patients with obesity | - | can improve | #6 |
mindfulness-based interventions | decrease | diabetes-related distress | patients with diabetes | - | can improve | #7 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | metabolic regulation | patients with diabetes | - | can improve | #8 |
Mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) | increase | insula and anterior cingulate cortex volumes and activities | patients with schizophrenia | - | Increased | #9 |
Mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) has gained attention in recent years as a promising treatment for patients with schizophrenia for whom traditional interventions are not effective. Research demonstrates improvements in psychotic symptoms, emotion regulation, and other areas including re-hospitalization rates and insight into illness following MBT interventions. Yet MBT studies have not carefully reported results in patients with schizophrenia and co-occurring substance use or comorbid medical problems, bringing into question the generalizability of these findings. This narrative review explores the literature regarding the use of mindfulness-based interventions for patients with schizophrenia as well as for patients with substance use disorder, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. Findings suggest that MBTs can improve craving in substance use disorder, eating related behaviors in obesity, diabetes-related distress, and metabolic regulation in patients with diabetes. Increased insula and anterior cingulate cortex volumes and activities following MBTs might be associated with the potential benefit of MBTs in patients with schizophrenia. Our review provides a foundational basis in support of the need for future studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of MBTs for schizophrenia with co-occurring substance use disorder and/or comorbid cardiometabolic problems.