Neural effects of mindfulness-based interventions on patients with major depressive disorder: A systematic review
Abstract
Growing evidence has suggested that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) could have beneficial effects on the acute phase of depression and on the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence. Despite growing clinical interest, the effects of MBIs on brain functioning in patients with MDD remain unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the changes in brain functioning associated with MBIs in patients with MDD. A systematic search was conducted, and of the 56 articles found, 8 were eligible. MBIs have modulatory effects on several brain regions implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD, such as the prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and the parietal cortex. These regions have been implicated in self-awareness, attention and emotion regulation. Some of these findings were consistent with the effects of MBIs observed in healthy subjects and patients with other psychiatric disorders, especially enhanced activity in the frontal and subcortical regions related to the improved somatosensory awareness. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of MBIs in MDD.
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Mindfulness-based therapy can help patients with major depressive disorder with self-awareness, attention control, and emotion regulation by regulating the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia.
“Evidence also suggests that mindfulness-based therapy can help MDD patients’ self-awareness, control attention and regulate emotion by regulating the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia [15].”
From The effectiveness of mindfulness yoga on patients with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2023) · cites this paper as [15]
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Mindfulness-based interventions: an overall review
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“Evidence also suggests that mindfulness-based therapy can help MDD patients’ self-awareness, control attention and regulate emotion by regulating the prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, and basal ganglia [15].”
Background
- Authors
- Vignaud, P., Donde, C., Sadki, T., Poulet, E., & Brunelin, J.
- Affiliations
- Lyon 1 Université (FR)
- Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Vignaud, Philippe
- Venue
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-05
- Volume
- 88
- Pages
- 98-105
- ISSN
- 0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2802285673
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 67
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based interventions, major depressive disorder, brain function, prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, parietal cortex, emotion regulation, self-awareness, depressive relapse prevention, acute depression
- MeSH terms
- Attention, Brain, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Humans, Mindfulness
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