Are Mindfulness-Based Approaches Effective?
What the latest research tells us about treating depression across diagnoses with MBCT, ACT, and DBT
Mindfulness is a form of conscious awareness focused on the present moment. Definitions generally share the same three core characteristics: an intention to cultivate awareness, awareness of the present moment, and a non-judgemental attitude
Since the 1970s, mindfulness has steadily made its way into Western clinical practice. What began with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has since evolved into a family of therapeutic approaches known as Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs). These include widely used therapies like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Each of these blends mindfulness techniques with principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but they do so in different ways. MBSR and MBCT actively teach meditation as part of treatment, while ACT and DBT integrate mindfulness without requiring formal meditation practice. These approaches have been adapted to fit a range of clinical populations and have shown effectiveness across conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
In 2025, a comprehensive meta-analysis published in Psychiatry Research took a closer look at whether MBIs help reduce depressive symptoms in adults with various mental health diagnoses.
The researchers focused exclusively on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with active control groups (the gold standard in clinical research) and included an additional decade of data beyond previous reviews. Their goal was to offer a clearer, more reliable picture of how well MBIs work for depression, not just in major depressive disorder, but across psychiatric diagnoses.
This research is important given that depression is understood not only as a family of disorders but also as a cross-diagnostic feature appearing in anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychosis. As a result, treatments that can target depressive symptoms across diagnoses are gaining traction. MBIs are particularly well-suited to this shift in clinical thinking.
Key Findings
This meta-analysis examined how well Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) reduce depressive symptoms across different mental health conditions. It focused only on high-quality studies that compared these therapies to other active treatments. Here’s what stood out:
Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) work. Across the board, mindfulness-based therapies like MBCT, ACT, and DBT were more effective at reducing depression than the comparison treatments they were tested against.
Some approaches stood out more than others:
MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) was the most effective of all the approaches studied, offering substantial relief from depressive symptoms.
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) also worked well, showing solid benefits for mood.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) helped too, though the improvements were more modest.
Other mindfulness approaches also showed benefit, though generally to a lesser degree.
Helpful across diagnoses: These therapies were effective not just for people with major depression, but also for those with other mental health conditions who experience depressive symptoms, highlighting their broad, cross-diagnostic potential.
Cultural context matters: MBCT and DBT tended to work even better in Asian countries than in the U.S. or Europe, possibly because of cultural familiarity with mindfulness practices.
More time in therapy led to better results, especially in ACT. Higher dropout rates tended to reduce the benefit in MBCT.
Implications for Clinical Practice
Consider using MBIs in your practice for depressive symptoms
Mindfulness-based therapies like MBCT, ACT, and DBT are effective in reducing depressive symptoms, not just in major depression but across a variety of psychiatric conditions. You can find trainings and resources here (some of which can be very expensive):ACT training. Another one by PESI here. There are also some free overviews on Youtube.
Be mindful of therapy duration & client retention
For ACT in particular, longer treatment duration was linked with better outcomes. Sustained engagement can make a difference. In MBCT, higher dropout rates were associated with reduced benefits, highlighting the importance of supporting clients to stay engaged throughout the program. Methods such as scheduling appointments, following up with clients, asking for client commitment, and a focus on obstacles may be helpful in improving retention.Cultural fit may enhance outcomes
MBCT and DBT tended to be more effective in Asian populations, possibly due to stronger cultural alignment with mindfulness practices. Clinicians may want to consider cultural fit when recommending these interventions. If someone does not have a background in mindfulness-based practices, you may want to spend more time on psychoeducation and understanding. TherapistAid has some resources.Consider other tools: Apps such as Insight Timer and Headspace may be helpful in teaching concepts around mindfulness
Attribution: This summary was created by the team at Psychvox and is based on insights from the articles “Effectiveness of mindfulness based interventions in reducing depressive symptoms across mental disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials” by Ekin Alkan and colleagues. All rights to the original research remain with the authors and the publisher. This summary is intended for educational purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the original authors. The articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).