Cited by 335Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPain Management and Placebo EffectPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

The validation of an active control intervention for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

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MacCoon, Donal G., Imel, Zac E., Rosenkranz, Melissa A., Sheftel, Jenna G., Weng, Helen Y., Sullivan, Jude C., Bonus, Katherine A., Stoney, Catherine M. +3 more·2012·Behaviour Research and Therapy

Abstract

Most of the extant literature investigating the health effects of mindfulness interventions relies on wait-list control comparisons. The current article specifies and validates an active control condition, the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), thus providing the foundation necessary for rigorous investigations of the relative efficacy of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and for testing mindfulness as an active ingredient. 63 participants were randomized to either MBSR (n = 31) or HEP (n = 32). Compared to HEP, MBSR led to reductions in thermal pain ratings in the mindfulness- but not the HEP-related instruction condition (η(2) = .18). There were significant improvements over time for general distress (η(2) = .09), anxiety (η(2) = .08), hostility (η(2) = .07), and medical symptoms (η(2) = .14), but no effects of intervention. Practice was not related to change. HEP is an active control condition for MBSR while remaining inert to mindfulness. These claims are supported by results from a pain task. Participant-reported outcomes (PROs) replicate previous improvements to well-being in MBSR, but indicate that MBSR is no more effective than a rigorous active control in improving these indices. These results emphasize the importance of using an active control condition like HEP in studies evaluating the effectiveness of MBSR.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.brat.2011.10.011

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  • For the past 10 years, more and more meditation studies have used longitudinal RCT design with active controls such as relaxation training, health education or enhancement programs, physical exercise, and cognitive tasks.

    “consequently, for the past 10 years, more and more meditation studies have used longitudinal Rct design with active controls such as relaxation training, health education or enhancement programs, physical exercise, and cognitive tasks (Davidson, 2010;Maccoon et al., 2012;2014;Rosenkranz et al., 2013;terburg et al., 2009).”

    From Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males (2024) · cites this paper as Maccoon et al., 2012

    The Abstract reports a randomized comparison of MBSR with an active Health Enhancement Program control. It also describes earlier studies using physical exercise or social support/relaxation controls. It does not establish an increasing trend over the past 10 years or document the full range of controls listed; instead, it says most existing mindfulness studies used wait-list controls. Page numbers were not supplied in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Later rigorous RCT studies using an active control failed to replicate the positive results of meditation versus waitlist control.

    “however, later rigorous Rct studies using an active control failed to replicate these results.”

    From Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males (2024) · cites this paper as Maccoon et al., 2012

    The Abstract reports that MBSR was no more effective than an active control on participant-reported well-being measures, despite earlier positive comparisons with wait-list controls. But this paper reports one randomized comparison, not multiple later RCTs; it also says the well-being improvements were replicated and reports an MBSR advantage on a thermal-pain measure. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Other longitudinal RCTs showed no sustained attention differences between MBSR and HEP, comparable post-training stress-evoked cortisol responses, and equivalent reductions in self-reported psychological distress and physical symptoms.

    “Other longitudinal Rcts also showed no sustained attention differences between MBsR and heP, MBsR and heP had comparable post-training stress-evoked cortisol responses, as well as equivalent reductions in self-reported psychological distress and physical symptoms (Davidson, 2010;Maccoon et al., 2012;2014;Rosenkranz et al., 2013).”

    From Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males (2024) · cites this paper as Maccoon et al., 2012

    The Results (SCL-90-R and Medical Symptom Checklist; page unavailable) report decreases in self-reported psychological distress and medical symptoms, with no overall group difference on the primary distress measure. But the Discussion notes that distress increased in MBSR participants from post-training to follow-up while it decreased in HEP participants, so the reductions were not uniformly equivalent. Our copy does not report MBSR–HEP comparisons of sustained attention or post-training stress-evoked cortisol responses. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The waitlist control has been intensively investigated in the meditation field.

    “the waitlist control has been intensively investigated in the meditation field (Davidson, 2010;Maccoon, Maclean, Davidson, saron, & lutz, 2014;Maccoon et al., 2012;Rosenkranz et al., 2013;terburg et al., 2009).”
  • A series of studies used MBSR versus HEP to validate the active control in meditation.

    “For example, a series of studies used MBsR vs. health enhancement Program (heP) to validate the active control in meditation (Davidson, 2010;Maccoon et al., 2012;2014;Rosenkranz et al., 2013).”

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Authors
MacCoon, D. G., Imel, Z. E., Rosenkranz, M. A., Sheftel, J. G., Weng, H. Y., Sullivan, J. C., Bonus, K. A., Stoney, C. M., Salomons, T. V., Davidson, R. J., & Lutz, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
  • University of Washington (US)
  • University of Wisconsin Health (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
MacCoon, Donal G.
Venue
Behaviour Research and Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-01
Volume
50
Issue
1
Pages
3-12
ISSN
0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2145128570
Cited by
335
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 41 · 2021: 34 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 10
FWCI
15.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (U01AT002114-01A1)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P50-MH069315-03)
  • Fetzer Institute, and gifts
  • John W. Kluge Foundation and the Impact Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
mindfulness-based stress reduction, active control, mindfulness-based interventions, waitlist control, thermal pain, anxiety, hostility, general distress, clinical symptoms, well-being, intervention efficacy
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pain Measurement, Stress, Psychological, Treatment Outcome, Meditation

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