Mindfulness‐based and mindfulness‐informed interventions in bipolar disorder: A meta‐analysis based on Becker's method
Open accessAbstract
Bipolar disorder is a highly disruptive and debilitating problem. Mindfulness‐based and mindfulness‐informed interventions have exponentially emerged as third‐generation therapies, applied to a wide spectrum of disorders, including bipolar disorder. However, the reviews and meta‐analyses published to date are limited in their conclusions, as they are based on single‐group pretest–posttest cohort designs and mostly focused on mindfulness‐based interventions. The present review and meta‐analysis try to address these limitations, including studies on informed mindfulness, controlled and single‐group designs. It used a specific meta‐analytical procedure that allows an imputation procedure in those designs lacking a comparison group, by means of separate omnibus tests for the experimental and control group. A total of 13 studies (N = 331) were selected. The results showed an absence of effects on depression (g = 0.21) and mania (g = −0.13), but significant moderate effect on anxiety (g = 0.53). In conclusion, both mindfulness interventions showed robust evidence on anxiety symptoms in pretest–posttest periods compared to control groups. Few studies and lack of evidence of follow‐up periods were the main limitations found.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Meta-analyses have identified statistically significant results in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
“Meta-analyses have identified statistically significant results in the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of BD (Burgos-Julián et al., 2022; Chu et al., 2018).”
From Analysis of the Efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation in a Mutual Aid Group for Bipolar Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as Burgos-Julián et al., 2022
The Results (§3.4.3; page unavailable) report a statistically significant improvement in anxiety symptoms among people with bipolar disorder. But the Abstract and Discussion report no significant effects on depression or mania and say the interventions cannot be concluded effective for bipolar disorder’s core symptoms. The claim omits that limitation. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThere is evidence that mindfulness-based interventions are effective in reducing relapses in bipolar disorder.
“There is evidence of its effectiveness in reducing relapses (Burgos-Julian et al., 2022)”
From Analysis of the Efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation in a Mutual Aid Group for Bipolar Disorder (2024) · cites this paper as Burgos-Julian et al., 2022
The Introduction mentions relapse prevention as a goal of psychological intervention generally, not as a demonstrated effect of mindfulness-based interventions. The Abstract and Discussion report outcomes for depression, mania, and anxiety, and note a lack of follow-up evidence; no passage found reports whether mindfulness interventions reduced relapses (searched: relapse, relapses, recurrence). (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing
R Core Team (2000) · doi:10.32614/r.manuals · Cited by 355,706 · see citing works
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
American Psychiatric Association (2013) · doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 · Cited by 116,369 · see citing works
Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences
Muller, K. E., & Cohen, J. (1989) · Technometrics · doi:10.2307/1270020 · Cited by 99,588 · see citing works
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & The PRISMA Group (2009) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 · Cited by 64,042 · see citing works
Measuring inconsistency in meta-analyses
Higgins, J. P. T., Thompson, S. G., Deeks, J. J., & Altman, D. G. (2003) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7414.557 · Cited by 63,139 · see citing works
Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test
Egger, M., Smith, G. D., Schneider, M., & Minder, C. (1997) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.315.7109.629 · Cited by 56,722 · see citing works
Hamilton, M. (1960) · Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry · doi:10.1136/jnnp.23.1.56 · Cited by 32,817 · see citing works
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2009) · doi:10.1002/9780470743386 · Cited by 14,225 · see citing works
Duval, S., & Tweedie, R. (2000) · Biometrics · doi:10.1111/j.0006-341x.2000.00455.x · Cited by 14,099 · see citing works
A Rating Scale for Mania: Reliability, Validity and Sensitivity
Young, R. C., Biggs, J. T., Ziegler, V. E., & Meyer, D. A. (1978) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.133.5.429 · Cited by 8,744 · see citing works
A basic introduction to fixed-effect and random-effects models for meta-analysis
Borenstein, M., Hedges, L. V., Higgins, J. P. T., & Rothstein, H. R. (2010) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.12 · Cited by 6,793 · see citing works
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1982) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/0163-8343(82)90026-3 · Cited by 4,255 · see citing works
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
Teasdale, J. D., Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., Ridgeway, V. A., Soulsby, J. M., & Lau, M. A. (2000) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.68.4.615 · Cited by 3,236 · see citing works
Prevalence and Correlates of Bipolar Spectrum Disorder in the World Mental Health Survey Initiative
Merikangas, K. R., Jin, R., He, J.-P., Kessler, R. C., Lee, S., Sampson, N. A., Viana, M. C., Andrade, L. H., Hu, C., Karam, E. G., et al. (2011) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.12 · Cited by 2,627 · see citing works
Morris, S. B., & DeShon, R. P. (2002) · Psychological Methods · doi:10.1037/1082-989x.7.1.105 · Cited by 2,502 · see citing works
Hayes, S. C. (2004) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(04)80013-3 · Cited by 2,493 · see citing works
Evidence-based practice in psychology.
American Psychological Association (2006) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.61.4.271 · Cited by 2,478 · see citing works
Lipsey, M. W., & Wilson, D. B. (1993) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.48.12.1181 · Cited by 2,033 · see citing works
Methods to estimate the between‐study variance and its uncertainty in meta‐analysis
Veroniki, A. A., Jackson, D., Viechtbauer, W., Bender, R., Bowden, J., Knapp, G., Kuss, O., Higgins, J. P., Langan, D., & Salanti, G. (2016) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.1164 · Cited by 1,685 · see citing works
Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Goldberg, S. B., Tucker, R. P., Greene, P. A., Davidson, R. J., Wampold, B. E., Kearney, D. J., & Simpson, T. L. (2018) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.10.011 · Cited by 1,145 · see citing works
Synthesizing standardized mean‐change measures
Becker, B. J. (1988) · British Journal of Mathematical and Statistical Psychology · doi:10.1111/j.2044-8317.1988.tb00901.x · Cited by 889 · see citing works
Efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions to promote forgiveness: A meta-analysis.
Wade, N. G., Hoyt, W. T., Kidwell, J. E. M., & Worthington, E. L. (2013) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0035268 · Cited by 445 · see citing works
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: A Cognitive Behavioral Approach to Parasuicide
Linehan, M. M. (1987) · Journal of Personality Disorders · doi:10.1521/pedi.1987.1.4.328 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Kennedy, C. E., Fonner, V. A., Armstrong, K. A., Denison, J. A., Yeh, P. T., O’Reilly, K. R., & Sweat, M. D. (2019) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-018-0925-0 · Cited by 212 · see citing works
Psychosocial interventions in bipolar disorder: What, for whom, and when
Reinares, M., Sánchez-Moreno, J., & Fountoulakis, K. N. (2014) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.12.017 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Van Dijk, S., Jeffrey, J., & Katz, M. R. (2013) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2012.05.054 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry
Shapero, B. G., Greenberg, J., Pedrelli, P., de Jong, M., & Desbordes, G. (2018) · Focus · doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20170039 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
Mental Health Treatment Dropout and Its Correlates in a General Population Sample
Wang, J. (2007) · Medical Care · doi:10.1097/01.mlr.0000244506.86885.a5 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Malhi, G. S., Bell, E., Boyce, P., Bassett, D., Berk, M., Bryant, R., Gitlin, M., Hamilton, A., Hazell, P., Hopwood, M., et al. (2020) · Bipolar Disorders · doi:10.1111/bdi.13036 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Ives-Deliperi, V. L., Howells, F., Stein, D. J., Meintjes, E. M., & Horn, N. (2013) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.074 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Lin, L., Chu, H., & Hodges, J. S. (2016) · Biometrics · doi:10.1111/biom.12543 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder
Perich, T., Manicavasagar, V., Mitchell, P. B., Ball, J. R., & Hadzi‐Pavlovic, D. (2013) · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica · doi:10.1111/acps.12033 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy for Nonremitted Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Deckersbach, T., Hölzel, B. K., Eisner, L. R., Stange, J. P., Peckham, A., Dougherty, D. D., Rauch, S. L., Lazar, S. W., & Nierenberg, A. A. (2011) · CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics · doi:10.1111/j.1755-5949.2011.00236.x · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Matrix product ansatz for Fermi fields in one dimension
Chung, S. S., Sun, K., & Bolech, C. J. (2015) · Physical Review B · doi:10.1103/physrevb.91.121108 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder: A feasibility trial
Weber, B., Jermann, F., Gex-Fabry, M., Nallet, A., Bondolfi, G., & Aubry, J.-M. (2010) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2010.03.007 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Psychosocial treatment and interventions for bipolar disorder: a systematic review
Miziou, S., Tsitsipa, E., Moysidou, S., Karavelas, V., Dimelis, D., Polyzoidou, V., & Fountoulakis, K. N. (2015) · Annals of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12991-015-0057-z · Cited by 102 · see citing works
A pilot study of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder
Miklowitz, D. J., Alatiq, Y., Goodwin, G. M., Geddes, J. R., Fennell, M. J. V., Dimidjian, S., Hauser, M., & Williams, J. M. G. (2009) · International Journal of Cognitive Therapy · doi:10.1521/ijct.2009.2.4.373 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder: A systematic review
Lovas, D. A., & Schuman‐Olivier, Z. (2018) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2018.06.017 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Anxiety Comorbidity and Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder Patients
Kauer‐Sant’Anna, M., Frey, B. N., Andreazza, A. C., Ceresér, K. M. M., Gazalle, F. K., Tramontina, J., da Costa, S. C., Santin, A. M. P., & Kapczinski, F. P. (2007) · The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/070674370705200309 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Chu, C.-S., Stubbs, B., Chen, T.-Y., Tang, C.-H., Li, D.-J., Yang, W.-C., Wu, C.-K., Carvalho, A. F., Vieta, E., Miklowitz, D. J., et al. (2018) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.025 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Mindfulness based cognitive therapy improves frontal control in bipolar disorder: a pilot EEG study
Howells, F. M., Ives-Deliperi, V. L., Horn, N. R., & Stein, D. J. (2012) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/1471-244x-12-15 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group Skills Training for Bipolar Disorder
Eisner, L. R., Eddie, D., Harley, R. M., Jacobo, M., Nierenberg, A. A., & Deckersbach, T. (2017) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.12.006 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Steinert, C., Stadter, K., Stark, R., & Leichsenring, F. (2017) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2032 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Yapici Eser, H., Kacar, A. S., Kilciksiz, C. M., Yalçinay-Inan, M., & Ongur, D. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00229 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Malhi, G. S., Outhred, T., Morris, G., Boyce, P. M., Bryant, R. A., Fitzgerald, P. B., Hopwood, M., Lyndon, B., Mulder, R., Murray, G., et al. (2018) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/mja17.00658 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Effect size calculation in meta-analyses of psychotherapy outcome research
Hoyt, W. T., & Re, A. C. D. (2017) · Psychotherapy Research · doi:10.1080/10503307.2017.1405171 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Psychological therapy for anxiety in bipolar spectrum disorders: A systematic review
Stratford, H. J., Cooper, M. J., Di Simplicio, M., Blackwell, S. E., & Holmes, E. A. (2015) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2014.11.002 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Mindfulness-based treatment for Bipolar Disorder: A systematic review of the literature
Bojic, S., & Becerra, R. (2017) · Europe’s Journal of Psychology · doi:10.5964/ejop.v13i3.1138 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Xuan, R., Li, X., Qiao, Y., Guo, Q., Liu, X., Deng, W., Hu, Q., Wang, K., & Zhang, L. (2020) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113116 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Pavlova, B., Perlis, R. H., Mantere, O., Sellgren, C. M., Isometsä, E., Mitchell, P. B., Alda, M., & Uher, R. (2017) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291716003135 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Dropout rate and associated factors in patients with bipolar disorders
Moon, E., Chang, J. S., Kim, M. Y., Seo, M. H., Cha, B., Ha, T. H., Choi, S., Cho, H. S., Park, T., & Ha, K. (2012) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2012.02.025 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Painter, J. M., Mote, J., Peckham, A., Lee, E. H., Campellone, T. R., Pearlstein, J. G., Morgan, S. B., Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., & Moskowitz, J. T. (2019) · General Hospital Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.07.013 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Pankowski, S., Adler, M., Andersson, G., Lindefors, N., & Svanborg, C. (2017) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2016.1231218 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Biseul, I., Icick, R., Seguin, P., Bellivier, F., & Scott, J. L. (2016) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2053 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Hanssen, I., van der Horst, N., Boele, M., van Bennekom, M. L., Regeer, E. J., & Speckens, A. E. M. (2020) · International Journal of Bipolar Disorders · doi:10.1186/s40345-020-00197-y · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Hanssen, I., van Dord, M. I., Compen, F. R., Geurts, D. E. M., Schellekens, M. P. J., & Speckens, A. E. M. (2019) · International Journal of Bipolar Disorders · doi:10.1186/s40345-019-0153-0 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Mindfulness and self-care for the clinician.
Shapiro, S. L., & Carlson, L. E. (2017) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/0000022-009 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
2 of the 59 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- L opez-Soto, R., & Marqués-Reyes, D. (2016). The effectiveness of MBCT for bipolar disorder: A systematic literature review. Revista de Psi- coterapia, 27(27103), 231-249.
- Montgomery, S. A., & Asberg, M. (1979). A new depression scale designed to be sensitive to change. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 134(4), 382-389. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.134.4.38 · DOI
- Schwarzer, G. (2007). meta: An R package for meta-analysis. R News, 7(3), 40-45.
- Williams, J. M. G., Alatiq, Y., Crane, C., Barnhofer, T., Fennell, M. J. V., Duggan, D. S., Hepburn, S., & Goodwin, G. M. M. (2008). Mindfulness- based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in bipolar disorder: Preliminary evalu- ation of immediate effects on between-episode functioning. Journal of Affective Disorders, 107(1-3), 275-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/10. 1016/j.jad.2007.08.022 · DOI
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Wang, X. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1301786 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Wang, Z., Shalihaer, K., Hofmann, S. G., Feng, S., & Liu, X. (2024) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.2981 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Probing the impact of psychoanalytic therapy for bipolar disorders: A scoping review
Stefana, A., D’Imperio, D., Dakanalis, A., Vieta, E., Fusar‐Poli, P., & Youngstrom, E. A. (2022) · International Forum of Psychoanalysis · doi:10.1080/0803706x.2022.2097307 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Takotsubo Syndrome: The Enigma of Women’s Depressed Heart – A State-of-the-Art Review
Lisci, F. M., Mazza, M., Brisi, C., Gaetani, E., Pola, R., Romagnoli, E., Biondi‐Zoccai, G., & Marano, G. (2025) · Heart and Mind · doi:10.4103/hm.hm-d-24-00081 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Analysis of the Efficacy of Mindfulness Meditation in a Mutual Aid Group for Bipolar Disorder
Burgos-Julián, F. A., Díaz-Silveira, C., Ruiz-Íñiguez, R., & Santed-Germán, M. A. (2024) · Clinica y Salud · doi:10.5093/clysa2024a4
Self-citationBurgos-Julián, F. A., Díaz‐Silveira, C., Ruiz‐Íñiguez, R., & Germán, M. Á. S. (2024) · Anales de Psicología · doi:10.6018/analesps.549581
Self-citationMindfulness-Based Therapies with Bipolar Disorder
Russell, T. A. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-63349-2_13
Zhang, B., Li, B., Liang, Z., Zhang, Y., Lau, L. Y., Chen, Y., & Zeng, X. (2025) · Psycho-Oncologie · doi:10.18282/po4522
Goal Pursuit‐Focused CBT for Bipolar Disorder: A Four‐Case Series
Gragnani, A., Uvelli, A., & Saettoni, M. (2026) · Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy · doi:10.1002/cpp.70224
Mindfulness-based stress reduction for functional neurological disorder: A feasibility study
Michaelis, R., Meibert, J., Alimov, N., Kleinschnitz, C., & Popkirov, S. (2026) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2026.112581
- Authors
- Burgos‐Julián, F. A., Ruiz‐Íñiguez, R., Peña‐Ibáñez, F., Montero, A. C., & Santed‐Germán, M. A.
- Affiliations
- Faculty of Psychology Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED) Madrid Spain
- Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (ES)
- Alpedrete Local Clinic Health Center Villalba Estación (Madrid) Madrid Spain
- Universidad de Alcalá (ES)
- Venue
- Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-02-10
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1172-1185
- ISSN
- 1063-3995 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-0879
- OpenAlex
- W4210601459
- Cited by
- 10
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1
- FWCI
- 0.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based interventions, bipolar disorder, pretest-posttest design, anxiety symptoms, depression, mania
- MeSH terms
- Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Humans, Research Design, Mindfulness
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
