Comparing the efficacy of mindfulness-based therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in head-to-head randomized controlled trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis of equivalence.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are equally effective in treating current adult depression.
Results Summary
The study found that MBT and CBT were statistically equivalent in efficacy at both post-intervention and follow-up, with Bayesian analyses supporting no significant difference between the two. Differences at follow-up were smaller between CBT and MBCT compared to CBT and MBSR.
Population
Adults with depression (primary or secondary outcome).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) | no change | depression treatment outcome | 2750 participants | Hedges's g = -0.009; p < .001 | were statistically significantly equivalent | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) | no change | depression treatment outcome | 2750 participants | g = -0.033; p = .001 | were statistically significantly equivalent | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) | no change | current adult depression | adult depression patients | - | were equally efficacious | #3 |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | no change | depression treatment outcome | 2750 participants | Hedges's g = -0.009; p < .001 | were statistically significantly equivalent | #4 |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | no change | depression treatment outcome | 2750 participants | g = -0.033; p = .001 | were statistically significantly equivalent | #5 |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) | no change | current adult depression | adult depression patients | - | were equally efficacious | #6 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) | no change | follow-up treatment outcome | - | Slope = 0.37; p = .022 | differences were smaller | #7 |
mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) | no change | follow-up treatment outcome | - | Slope = 0.37; p = .022 | differences were larger | #8 |
BACKGROUND: While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is recommended as first-line treatment for depression, a significant minority do not show an adequate treatment response. Despite evidence for the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) both in treating current depression and preventing relapse, it remains unknown whether MBT and CBT are equivalent in the treatment of current depression. METHODS: Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing MBT with CBT and including depression as primary or secondary outcome. RESULTS: When pooling the results of 30 independent RCTs with a total of 2750 participants, MBT and CBT were statistically significantly equivalent at both post-intervention (Hedges's g = -0.009; p < .001) and follow-up (g = -0.033; p = .001). Supplementary Bayesian analyses provided further support for the alternative hypothesis of no difference between MBT and CBT. When exploring possible sources of heterogeneity, the differences at follow-up were smaller between CBT and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) than between CBT and mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) (Slope = 0.37;p = .022). CONCLUSION: The currently available evidence suggests that that MBT and CBT are equally efficacious in treating current adult depression. It remains unclear whether the similar effects of the two intervention types are due to different mechanisms or common factors.