Cited by 75Mindfulness and Compassion InterventionsPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsReligion, Spirituality, and Psychology

A common factors perspective on mindfulness-based interventions

Open access
Goldberg, Simon B.·2022·Nature Reviews Psychology

Abstract

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have entered mainstream Western culture in the past four decades. There are now dozens of MBIs with varying degrees of empirical support and a variety of mindfulness-specific psychological mechanisms have been proposed to account for the beneficial effects of MBIs. Although it has long been acknowledged that non-specific or common factors might contribute to MBI efficacy, relatively little empirical work has directly investigated these aspects. In this Perspective, I suggest that situating MBIs within the broader psychotherapy research literature and emphasizing the commonalities rather than differences between MBIs and other treatments might help guide future MBI research. To that end, I summarize the evidence for MBI efficacy and several MBI-specific psychological mechanisms, contextualize MBI findings within the broader psychotherapy literature from a common factors perspective, and propose suggestions for future research based on innovations and challenges occurring within psychotherapy research.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This Perspective situates mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) within psychotherapy’s common-factors debate, arguing that non-specific elements such as alliance, expectancy, group cohesion, and researcher allegiance may matter alongside MBI-specific mechanisms. It reviews efficacy and mechanism evidence and proposes extending psychotherapy innovations like routine outcome monitoring, mHealth, precision matching, and stronger harm/diversity research to MBIs.

Key findings

  • MBIs produce small-to-large symptom reductions versus no treatment (standardized mean difference 0.21–0.89) for depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being, with effects attenuated at follow-up; effects are smaller in children, racial/ethnic minority samples, and substance use. MBIs modestly outperform non-specific controls, slightly outperform active controls for psychiatric symptoms but not physical health, and perform similarly to frontline treatments such as CBT and antidepressants; apparent advantages may be explained by researcher allegiance.
  • Evidence for MBI-specific mechanisms is limited: self-report mindfulness, decentering, and acceptance effects have questionable construct validity; behavioral attention/interoception effects are less robust; one meta-analysis found strongest mediation for mindfulness and repetitive negative thinking. Home practice correlates with outcomes (r = .25 clinical, .29 non-clinical), but dosage RCTs and dismantling trials are mixed; a rigorous MBCT dismantling trial found no relapse difference with versus without meditation.
  • Common-factor patterns in MBIs include moderate absolute effects (standardized mean difference ≥ 0.50 versus no treatment), small relative differences versus other therapies (≤ 0.20), researcher allegiance associations, group effects in MBSR, and alliance–outcome correlations in several studies, though null associations exist (e.g., smoking abstinence). Adherence/competence links are mixed; in psychotherapy generally, therapist and group nesting explain outcome variance (intraclass correlations .05 and .06).
  • Among 27 popular mental health apps, Headspace and Calm account for 90% of monthly active users; mindfulness content reaches 96% of users versus 2% for cognitive restructuring and 0.0004% for exposure. Precision-medicine predictors include greater symptom severity, female sex/low extraversion, and greater rumination/empathy.

Methods

  • Perspective/narrative review, not a new empirical study. The author synthesizes evidence, prioritizing meta-analyses and systematic reviews, then RCTs and non-experimental designs, in line with APA evidence-based practice guidelines.
  • Covers MBI efficacy, MBI-specific mechanisms, common factors in psychotherapy and MBIs, and future research directions; the extensive MBI neurobiological literature is explicitly not covered.

Limitations

  • The author states that others may disagree with some ideas, the mindfulness literature is vast, and neurobiological contributions are omitted; causal mechanisms cannot be definitively established in psychotherapy or MBIs because key causality criteria remain untested.
  • The author notes that MBI research lacks evaluation of harms/adverse effects and racial/ethnic diversity, and that common-factor evidence in MBIs is inconclusive with mixed findings (e.g., alliance).
  • Evident from the text: as a Perspective, the review is selective rather than systematic; many claims rely on meta-analyses whose methods are debated, and findings may be affected by researcher allegiance, measure unreliability, and range restriction.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s44159-022-00090-8

Cites

198 of 198 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 179 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Interpretationreasoning

    Non-specific aspects of MBIs may be more than a methodological nuisance to be controlled.

    “However, non-specific aspects of MBIs might be more than a methodological liability to be controlled for.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Findings about common factors in psychotherapy are relevant to MBIs.
  • Premisecitation

    Meta-analyses have concluded that differences between psychotherapies, when found, are usually small (SMD ≤ 0.20).

    “Meta-analyses have concluded that differences between psychotherapies, when present, tend to be small (standardized mean differences ≤ 0.2042,54).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [42] Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M. & Huibers, M. J. H. The role of common factors in psychotherapy outcomes. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 15, 207–231 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [54] Wampold, B. E. et al. A meta-analysis of outcome studies comparing bona fide psychotherapies: empirically, ‘all must have prizes’. Psychol. Bull. 122, 203–215 (1997). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    For nearly a century, psychotherapy researchers have observed that different treatments yield similar benefits.

    “However, for almost a century psychotherapy researchers have observed that diverse forms of treatment produce similar benefits39.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [39] Rosenzweig, S. Some implicit common factors in diverse methods of psychotherapy. Am. J. Orthopsychiat. 6, 412–415 (1936). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    Non-specific factors are frequently treated mainly as confounds in MBI mechanism research and as reasons to strengthen comparison conditions to isolate specific effects.

    “Yet, non-specific factors are often viewed primarily as a confound in studies of MBI mechanisms (but see33–35) and used as motivation for increasing the rigor of comparison conditions to isolate the specific effects of MBIs28,36–38.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [28] Tang, Y. Y., Hölzel, B. K. & Posner, M. I. The neuroscience of mindfulness meditation. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 16, 213–225 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [36] Davidson, R. J. Empirical explorations of mindfulness: conceptual and methodological conundrums. Emotion 10, 8–11 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [37] Davidson, R. J. & Kaszniak, A. W. Conceptual and methodological issues in research on mindfulness and meditation. Am. Psychol. 70, 581–592 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [38] MacCoon, D. G. et al. The validation of an active control intervention for mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR). Behav. Res. Ther. 50, 3–12 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Premisecitation

    A review of 30 meta-analyses concluded that the strongest support for links between CBT processes and outcome is for cognitive and behavioral treatment processes, along with therapeutic alliance and homework assignments.

    “A review of 30 meta-analyses of CBT processes concluded that the strongest support for linkages between CBT processes and outcome exists for cognitive (for example, changes in trauma-related cognitions) and behavioral treatment processes (for example, exposure and response prevention), along with therapeutic alliance (a common factor) and homework assignments47.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [47] Kazantzis, N. et al. The processes of cognitive behavioral therapy: a review of meta-analyses. Cogn. Ther. Res. 42, 349–357 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 14
  • May combine two claims. 36
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Some have argued that methodological limitations of component trials, such as limited power and high risk of researcher bias, make firm conclusions difficult.

    “Similar to the relative efficacy literature, some have argued that methodological limitations of the literature (such as limited statistical power and high risk of researcher bias) make it difficult to draw firm conclusions from component trials42.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [42] Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M. & Huibers, M. J. H. The role of common factors in psychotherapy outcomes. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 15, 207–231 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Meta-analyses of component trials have found no differences between treatments with and without supposedly active ingredients, or only small advantages of adding a component (SMD = −0.20 to 0.28).

    “Similar to meta-analyses examining relative efficacy, meta-analyses of component trials have failed to find differences between psychotherapy treatments with and without purportedly active ingredients or have detected small advantages of including an additional component (standardized mean differences = −0.20 to 0.28)60,62,63.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [60] Bell, E. C., Marcus, D. K. & Goodlad, J. K. Are the parts as good as the whole? A meta-analysis of component treatment studies. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 81, 722–736 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [62] Cuijpers, P., Cristea, I. A., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M. & Hollon, S. D. Component studies of psychological treatments of adult depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychother. Res. 29, 15–29 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [63] Ahn, H. N. & Wampold, B. E. Where oh where are the specific ingredients? A meta-analysis of component studies in counseling and psychotherapy. J. Couns. Psychol. 48, 251–257 (2001). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    The common factors tradition offers a different account from specific ingredients and points to different candidate mechanisms and pathways for improving outcomes.

    “The common factors tradition provides an alternative narrative to that emphasizing specific ingredients, highlighting a different set of candidate mechanisms which suggest different pathways for improving outcomes41.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [41] Wampold, B. E. How important are the common factors in psychotherapy? An update. World Psychiat. 14, 270–277 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: Findings about common factors in psychotherapy are relevant to MBIs.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Meta-analyses of adherence-outcome and competence-outcome links show non-significant associations in adults (rs = .02 and .07) and a small significant adherence-outcome effect (r = .10) but not competence-outcome (r = .02) in youth.

    “Results from meta-analyses of adherence-outcome and competence-outcome associations are mixed, with non-significant associations in adult samples (rs = .02 and .07, for adherence-outcome and competence-outcome, respectively64) and a small but significant effect for adherence-outcome (r = .10) but not competence-outcome (r = .02) in youth samples65.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [64] Webb, C. A., DeRubeis, R. J. & Barber, J. P. Therapist adherence/competence and treatment outcome: a meta-analytic review. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 78, 200–211 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [65] Collyer, H., Eisler, I. & Woolgar, M. Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of the relationship between adherence, competence and outcome in psychotherapy for children and adolescents. Eur. Child. Adolesc. Psychiat. 29, 417–431 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Strong evidence indicates that MBIs may benefit psychological health, and less so physical health, in both clinical and non-clinical groups.

    “there is overwhelming evidence that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) might be helpful for psychological and to a lesser extent physical health in clinical5,6 and non-clinical populations7,8.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [5] Goldberg, S. B., Riordan, K. M., Sun, S. & Davidson, R. J. The empirical status of mindfulness-based interventions: a systematic review of 44 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 17, 108–130 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [6] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 59, 52–60 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [7] Galante, J. et al. Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS Med. 18, e1003481 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [8] Khoury, B., Sharma, M., Rush, S. E. & Fournier, C. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for healthy individuals: a meta-analysis. J. Psychosom. Res. 78, 519–528 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    The therapeutic alliance is the most extensively studied common factor.

    “The therapeutic alliance (the affective bond between therapist and patient, and agreement on the tasks and goals of therapy) is the most widely studied common factor.46,52”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [46] Laska, K. M., Gurman, A. S. & Wampold, B. E. Expanding the lens of evidence-based practice in psychotherapy: a common factors perspective. Psychotherapy 51, 467–481 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [52] Flückiger, C., Del, A. C., Wampold, B. E. & Horvath, A. O. The alliance in adult psychotherapy: a meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy 55, 316–340 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    One widely applied model proposes four features present across healing systems: a treatment rationale, a healer-sufferer relationship, a healing ritual, and a healing setting.

    “According to one commonly applied model, four intervention features are present across various systems of healing (for example, shamanism and medicine), including psychotherapy: provision of a treatment rationale, relationship between healer and sufferer, healing ritual, and healing setting51.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [51] Frank, J. D. & Frank, J. B. Persuasion and Healing: A Comparative Study of Psychotherapy 3rd edn (Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1993).

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This pattern suggests that following a treatment manual or delivering treatment-specific components more competently does not improve psychotherapy effectiveness, which argues against specific ingredients.

    “This suggests that adhering to a particular treatment manual or delivering treatment-specific components more competently does not make psychotherapy more effective, thereby arguing against the role of specific ingredients.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These findings support the view that psychotherapy generally helps and that the specific type matters less.

    “Both findings support the notion that psychotherapy in general is helpful and that the particular type of psychotherapy is less important.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationcitation

    This pattern has been taken as indirect support for the idea that interventions work through factors shared across treatments.

    “This pattern has been interpreted as indirect support for the possibility that interventions work due to factors shared across treatments, that is, common factors39.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [39] Rosenzweig, S. Some implicit common factors in diverse methods of psychotherapy. Am. J. Orthopsychiat. 6, 412–415 (1936). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Common factors shown to correlate with outcomes include therapeutic alliance, goal consensus and collaboration, and therapist empathy.

    “On the common factors side, widely studied factors shown to correlate with outcomes include therapeutic alliance52, goal consensus and collaboration between therapist and patient66, and therapist empathy67.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [52] Flückiger, C., Del, A. C., Wampold, B. E. & Horvath, A. O. The alliance in adult psychotherapy: a meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy 55, 316–340 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [66] Shick Tryon, G., Birch, S. E. & Verkuilen, J. Meta-analyses of the relation of goal consensus and collaboration to psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy 55, 372–383 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [67] Elliott, R., Bohart, A. C., Watson, J. C. & Murphy, D. Therapist empathy and client outcome: an updated meta-analysis. Psychotherapy 55, 399–410 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Common factors have been grouped into support, learning, and action, and may occur in that sequence.

    “Common factors have also been categorized into support (for example, therapeutic alliance and therapist warmth), learning (for example, provision of feedback and changing expectations of personal effectiveness), and action (for example, taking risks and being encouraged to face fears), and might occur in that order (support leads to learning which leads to action)42.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [42] Cuijpers, P., Reijnders, M. & Huibers, M. J. H. The role of common factors in psychotherapy outcomes. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 15, 207–231 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Two pillars of the common factors case are that psychotherapy is effective and that different therapies have comparable outcomes.

    “Evidence that psychotherapies work (absolute efficacy53) and tend to work about equally well (lack of relative efficacy41) are cornerstones of the common factors argument.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [53] Smith, M. L. & Glass, G. V. Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies. Am. Psychol. 32, 752–760 (1977). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [41] Wampold, B. E. How important are the common factors in psychotherapy? An update. World Psychiat. 14, 270–277 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Possible explanations for the lack of association include unreliable adherence and competence measures and range restriction.

    “Potential explanations offered for this lack of association include unreliability in adherence and competence measures and range restriction (owing to selecting highly adherent and/or competent therapists to deliver treatments in research studies)64.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [64] Webb, C. A., DeRubeis, R. J. & Barber, J. P. Therapist adherence/competence and treatment outcome: a meta-analytic review. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 78, 200–211 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Some evidence indicates MBIs slightly outperform specific active controls on psychiatric symptoms but not physical health conditions.

    “There is some evidence that MBIs slightly outperform specific active controls (other interventions intended to be therapeutic, such as physical exercise or relaxation training54) on psychiatric symptoms6 but not physical health conditions5.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [6] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 59, 52–60 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [5] Goldberg, S. B., Riordan, K. M., Sun, S. & Davidson, R. J. The empirical status of mindfulness-based interventions: a systematic review of 44 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 17, 108–130 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Variation in therapists' ability to form an effective alliance and variation in group cohesion have been proposed as common factors that may underlie these effects.

    “Variance in therapists’ ability to form an effective therapeutic alliance70 and variance in group cohesion69,71 have been offered as common factors that might underlie these effects.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [70] Baldwin, S. A., Wampold, B. E. & Imel, Z. E. Untangling the alliance–outcome correlation: exploring the relative importance of therapist and patient variability in the alliance. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 75, 842–852 (2007). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [69] Kivlighan, D. M. et al. Does the group in group psychotherapy matter? A meta-analysis of the intraclass correlation coefficient in group treatment research. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 88, 322–337 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [71] Burlingame, G. M. Cohesion in group therapy: a meta-analysis. Psychotherapy 55, 384–398 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    MBIs modestly outperform non-specific control conditions on psychiatric symptoms in clinical samples and show similar-sized effects for depression and anxiety in non-clinical samples, with wider confidence intervals due largely to fewer studies.

    “MBIs modestly outperform non-specific control conditions (conditions that control for time and instructor attention but that lack components intended to be therapeutic54) on psychiatric symptoms in clinical samples6,77 and show effects of similar magnitude for depression and anxiety symptoms in non-clinical samples (although confidence intervals around effect size estimates are wider due largely”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [6] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 59, 52–60 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [77] Goyal, M. et al. Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being. JAMA Intern. Med. 174, 357–368 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [7] Galante, J. et al. Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS Med. 18, e1003481 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    MBIs may reduce psychosomatic outcomes such as pain and sleep relative to no treatment, but the evidence is less robust, especially for sleep, with fewer studies and confidence intervals including zero.

    “MBIs might reduce psychosomatic outcomes like pain and sleep relative to no treatment, although evidence is less robust particularly for sleep than that for psychological symptoms, with fewer studies available and confidence intervals that include zero5.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5] Goldberg, S. B., Riordan, K. M., Sun, S. & Davidson, R. J. The empirical status of mindfulness-based interventions: a systematic review of 44 meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 17, 108–130 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Following APA evidence-based practice guidelines, the author privileged meta-analyses and systematic reviews when possible, then individual RCTs and non-experimental designs.

    “In line with the American Psychological Association’s evidence-based practice guidelines44, when possible I have privileged evidence derived from meta-analyses and systematic reviews, followed by individual randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-experimental designs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [44] Goodheart, C. D. et al. Evidence-based practice in psychology. Am. Psychol. 61, 271–285 (2006). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Three RCTs that experimentally manipulated repeated mindfulness training dosage produced mixed findings: larger and smaller effects from higher versus lower doses, and no differences across dosage conditions.

    “Findings from three RCTs that experimentally manipulated the dosage of repeated mindfulness training were mixed, showing evidence for larger94 and smaller95 effects from higher versus lower dosages, as well as no differences across dosage conditions96.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [94] Strohmaier, S., Jones, F. W. & Cane, J. E. Effects of length of mindfulness practice on mindfulness, depression, anxiety, and stress: a randomized controlled experiment. Mindfulness 12, 198–214 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [95] Berghoff, C. R., Wheeless, L. E., Ritzert, T. R., Wooley, C. M. & Forsyth, J. P. Mindfulness meditation adherence in a college sample: comparison of a 10-min versus 20-min 2-week daily practice. Mindfulness 8, 1513–1521 (2017). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [96] Williams, J. M. et al. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for preventing relapse in recurrent depression: a randomized dismantling trial. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 82, 275–286 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Because no specific ingredient or common factor has been shown definitively causal in psychotherapy generally, it is reasonable to conclude that definitive evidence for causal mechanisms in MBIs is also lacking.

    “Given no specific ingredient or common factor has emerged as definitively causal within psychotherapy generally, it is reasonable to conclude that definitive evidence for causal mechanisms in MBIs also does not yet exist.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Findings about common factors in psychotherapy are relevant to MBIs.
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The requirements for causality include strong association, specificity, consistency, experimental manipulation, timeline, gradient, and plausibility or coherence.

    “These requirements include a strong association (between treatment and mechanism and between mechanism and outcome), specificity (lack of strong associations with other variables), consistency (evidence for strong association and specificity across studies), experimental manipulation (experiments directly manipulating the proposed mechanism impact the outcome), timeline (changes in mechanisms tem”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [43] Kazdin, A. E. Mediators and mechanisms of change in psychotherapy research. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 3, 1–27 (2007). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Smaller treatment effects have been found in children, racial/ethnic minority samples, and for substance use.

    “For example, smaller treatment effects have been observed in children74, racial/ethnic minority samples75, and for substance use76.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [74] Dunning, D. L. et al. Research Review: The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on cognition and mental health in children and adolescents — a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J. Child. Psychol. Psychiat. 60, 244–258 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [75] Sun, S., Goldberg, S. B., Loucks, E. B. & Brewer, J. A. Mindfulness-based interventions among people of color: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychother. Res. 32, 277–290 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [76] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for substance use disorders. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2021, 1–160 (2021).

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Across users of all 27 apps, mindfulness content reaches 96% of monthly active users while cognitive restructuring and exposure reach only 2% and 0.0004%, respectively.

    “Across users of all 27 apps, mindfulness content reaches 96% of monthly active users while cognitive restructuring and exposure (core elements of CBT) reach only 2% and 0.0004%, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] Wasil, A. R. et al. Reassessing evidence-based content in popular smartphone apps for depression and anxiety: developing and applying user-adjusted analyses. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 88, 983–993 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Results from dismantling studies are mixed and definitive evidence that meditation practice is a specific active ingredient in MBIs is lacking.

    “Thus, results from dismantling studies are mixed and definitive evidence for the potency of meditation practice as a specific ingredient in MBIs is lacking.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Null results in dismantling trials reflect a true absence of specific ingredient effects rather than insufficient statistical power or measurement problems.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    MBIs produce moderate benefits (SMD ≈ ≥0.50) relative to no treatment in RCTs and moderate effects (SMD ≈ ≥0.50) in naturalistic settings.

    “First, MBIs produce moderate benefits (standardized mean difference ≈ ≥ 0.50) relative to no treatment in RCTs6,7 and also show moderate effects (standardized mean difference ≈ ≥ 0.50) in naturalistic settings101,102 (absolute efficacy).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [6] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 59, 52–60 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [7] Galante, J. et al. Mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in adults in nonclinical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS Med. 18, e1003481 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [101] Tickell, A. et al. The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in real-world healthcare services. Mindfulness 11, 279–290 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [102] Chawla, N. et al. The mindfulness-based relapse prevention adherence and competence scale: development, interrater reliability, and validity. Psychother. Res. 20, 388–397 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Therapeutic alliance, a non-MBI-specific ingredient, correlates with outcomes in MBIs across several studies, although null associations have also been reported (e.g., with smoking abstinence).

    “Therapeutic alliance, also a non-MBI-specific ingredient, has been shown to correlate with outcomes in MBIs across several studies100,105,107, although null associations have also been reported (for example, with smoking abstinence107).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [100] Hirshberg, M. J., Goldberg, S. B., Rosenkranz, M. & Davidson, R. J. Prevalence of harm in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychol. Med. 18, 1–9 (2020).

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [105] Imel, Z., Baldwin, S., Bonus, K. & Maccoon, D. Beyond the individual: group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction. Psychother. Res. 18, 735–742 (2008). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [107] Mennin, D. S., Ellard, K. K., Fresco, D. M. & Gross, J. J. United we stand: emphasizing commonalities across cognitive-behavioral therapies. Behav. Ther. 44, 234–248 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    There is evidence for group effects in MBSR, but not for therapist or instructor effects.

    “Finally, there is evidence for group effects in mindfulness-based stress reduction106, but not for therapist (or instructor) effects.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [106] Goldberg, S. B., Davis, J. M. & Hoyt, W. T. The role of therapeutic alliance in mindfulness interventions: therapeutic alliance in mindfulness training for smokers. J. Clin. Psychol. 69, 936–950 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    How common factors investigated in traditional psychotherapy translate into the mHealth context, particularly unguided mHealth, is an area of active research.

    “Precisely how common factors investigated in traditional psychotherapy translate into the mHealth context, particularly unguided mHealth, is an area of active research122,123.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [122] Torous, J. & Firth, J. The digital placebo effect: mobile mental health meets clinical psychiatry. Lancet Psychiat. 3, 100–102 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [123] Miloff, A. et al. Measuring alliance toward embodied virtual therapists in the era of automated treatments with the virtual therapist alliance scale (VTAS): development and psychometric evaluation. J. Med. Internet Res. 22, e16660 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    It has not yet been established which mHealth elements are most important for producing beneficial effects nor the ideal cost-benefit tradeoff between intervention burden and efficacy.

    “It has not yet been established which mHealth elements are most important for producing beneficial effects nor the ideal cost-benefit tradeoff between intervention burden on consumers and providers and efficacy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Clinical trials are currently investigating the optimal type, dosage, and timing of instructor support for mHealth MBIs.

    “Clinical trials are currently investigating the optimal type, dosage, and timing of instructor support for mHealth MBIs121.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [121] Henson, P., Wisniewski, H., Hollis, C., Keshavan, M. & Torous, J. Digital mental health apps and the therapeutic alliance: initial review. BJPsych Open 5, e15 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Current evidence suggests meditation apps are beneficial and have some of the strongest empirical support among various mobile phone-based mental health interventions.

    “Current evidence suggests meditation apps are beneficial118 and have some of the strongest empirical support among various mobile phone-based mental health interventions117”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [118] Sun, S. et al. A mindfulness-based mobile health (mHealth) intervention among psychologically distressed university students in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial. J. Couns. Psychol. 69, 157–171 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [117] Gál, É., Ștefan, S. & Cristea, I. A. The efficacy of mindfulness meditation apps in enhancing users’ well-being and mental health related outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J. Affect. Disord. 279, 131–142 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    A dismantling study found unique benefits of mindfulness (monitoring with acceptance) delivered via smartphone app compared with active control (monitoring without acceptance) on some but not all psychological outcomes, including reduced momentary but not retrospective loneliness.

    “By contrast, another dismantling study found evidence for unique benefits of mindfulness (monitoring experience with acceptance) delivered through a smartphone app compared to an active control dismantling condition (monitoring experience without acceptance) on some but not all psychological outcomes (for example, mindfulness reduced momentary but not retrospective loneliness61,98).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [61] Lindsay, E. K., Young, S., Brown, K. W., Smyth, J. M. & Creswell, J. D. Mindfulness training reduces loneliness and increases social contact in a randomized controlled trial. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 116, 3488–3493 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [98] Cullen, B. et al. The contributions of focused attention and open monitoring in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for affective disturbances: a 3-armed randomized dismantling trial. PLoS One 16, e0244838 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Meta-analytic evidence suggests routine outcome monitoring improves patient outcomes and reduces dropout in psychotherapy.

    “Meta-analytic evidence suggests that routine outcome monitoring improves patient outcomes and reduces dropout in psychotherapy109.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [109] Dowrick, C. et al. Patients’ and doctors’ views on depression severity questionnaires incentivised in UK quality and outcomes framework: qualitative study. BMJ Clin. Res. 338, b663 (2009). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Preliminary evidence indicates therapeutic alliance emerges within unguided mHealth interventions, including mHealth MBIs, and is associated with outcomes.

    “There is also preliminary evidence that therapeutic alliance emerges within the context of unguided mHealth interventions124,125 (including mHealth MBIs126) and, as in in-person psychotherapy, is associated with outcomes124–126.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [124] Miragall, M., Baños, R. M., Cebolla, A. & Botella, C. Working alliance inventory applied to virtual and augmented reality (WAI-VAR): psychometrics and therapeutic outcomes. Front. Psychol. 6, 1531 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [125] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Alliance with an unguided smartphone app: validation of the digital working alliance inventory. Assessment https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911211015310 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [126] Nahum-Shani, I. et al. Just-in-time adaptive interventions (JITAIs) in mobile health: key components and design principles for ongoing health behavior support. Ann. Behav. Med. 52, 446–462 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • Rests on an assumption: Therapeutic alliance measures in mHealth contexts capture the same construct as in-person psychotherapy.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    It is challenging to establish causal mechanisms in both MBI and psychotherapy research.

    “Third, as discussed above, it is challenging to establish causal mechanisms in both MBI and psychotherapy research.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The therapeutic potential of low-intensity and high-intensity delivery formats is not yet realized and requires further investigation.

    “The therapeutic potential of low-intensity intervention (for example, interventions that occur in daily life prompted by mobile technology) and high-intensity delivery formats (for example, meditation retreats that promote impacts of long-term practice) are not yet realized and require further investigation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Within psychotherapy generally, the alliance-outcome association is weaker for some outcomes (such as dropout and risk behavior) and within some populations (such as patients with substance use disorders).

    “Within psychotherapy generally, there is evidence that the alliance-outcome association is weaker for some outcomes (such as dropout and risk behavior) and within some populations (such as patients with substance use disorders52).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [52] Flückiger, C., Del, A. C., Wampold, B. E. & Horvath, A. O. The alliance in adult psychotherapy: a meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy 55, 316–340 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Identifying as a woman and being low on extraversion are associated with larger improvement in psychological distress following MBCT for distressed individuals with diabetes.

    “identifying as a woman and being low on extraversion are associated with larger improvement in psychological distress following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for distressed individuals with diabetes130”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [130] Goldberg, S. B. et al. Testing the efficacy of a multicomponent, self-guided, smartphone-based meditation app: three-armed randomized controlled trial. JMIR Ment. Health 7, e23825 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Adapting psychotherapies to patients' cultural worldview, cultural humility, and matching between patient and provider cultural identities improve treatment outcomes.

    “For example, adapting psychotherapies to patients’ cultural worldview147, cultural humility (that is, a lack of superiority and openness to patients’ cultural perspectives)148, and matching between patient and provider cultural identities improve treatment outcomes149.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [147] Davis, D. E. et al. The multicultural orientation framework: a narrative review. Psychotherapy 55, 89–100 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [148] Cabral, R. R. & Smith, T. B. Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: a meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes. J. Couns. Psychol. 58, 537–554 (2011). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [149] Hanley, A. W. et al. Modeling the mindfulness-to-meaning theory’s mindful reappraisal hypothesis: replication with longitudinal data from a randomized controlled study. Stress Health 37, 778–789 (2021). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Greater rumination and greater empathy are associated with larger improvement following an mHealth MBI.

    “and greater rumination and greater empathy are associated with larger improvement following an mHealth MBI131.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [131] Cohen, Z. D. et al. The development and internal evaluation of a predictive model to identify for whom mindfulness-based cognitive therapy offers superior relapse prevention for recurrent depression versus maintenance antidepressant medication. Clin. Psychol. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026221076832 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Passive data collected through smartphones can detect daily ratings of depression and anxiety as well as aspects of well-being.

    “Although to our knowledge, no work to date has investigated these data streams using machine learning in the context of an MBI, passive data collected through smartphones can detect daily ratings of depression137 and anxiety138 as well as aspects of well-being139.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [137] Fukazawa, Y. et al. Predicting anxiety state using smartphone-based passive sensing. J. Biomed. Inform. 93, 103151 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [138] Hart, A., Reis, D., Prestele, E. & Jacobson, N. C. Using smartphone sensor paradata and personalized machine learning models to infer participants’ well-being: ecological momentary assessment. J. Med. Internet Res. 24, e34015 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [139] Baer, R., Crane, C., Miller, E. & Kuyken, W. Doing no harm in mindfulness-based programs: conceptual issues and empirical findings. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 71, 101–114 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    There is a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in MBI research and psychotherapy generally.

    “Second, there is a lack of racial and ethnic diversity in MBI research75,145 and psychotherapy generally146.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [75] Sun, S., Goldberg, S. B., Loucks, E. B. & Brewer, J. A. Mindfulness-based interventions among people of color: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychother. Res. 32, 277–290 (2022). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [145] Polo, A. J. et al. Diversity in randomized clinical trials of depression: a 36-year review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 67, 25–35 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [146] Benish, S. G., Quintana, S. & Wampold, B. E. Culturally adapted psychotherapy and the legitimacy of myth: a direct-comparison meta-analysis. J. Couns. Psychol. 58, 279–289 (2011). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationcitation

    Multimodal and intensive sampling data streams might be particularly promising inputs for machine learning models because these models can often handle many correlated predictors.

    “Multimodal and intensive sampling data streams (for example, experience sampling and passive measures gathered through smartphones and other electronic devices) used in some MBI studies133 and mental health research broadly134,135 might be particularly promising inputs for machine learning models, given that these models can often handle many correlated predictors136.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [133] Mohr, D. C., Zhang, M. & Schueller, S. M. Personal sensing: understanding mental health using ubiquitous sensors and machine learning. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 13, 23–47 (2017). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [134] Cornet, V. P. & Holden, R. J. Systematic review of smartphone-based passive sensing for health and wellbeing. J. Biomed. Inform. 77, 120–132 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [135] Dwyer, D. B., Falkai, P. & Koutsouleris, N. Machine learning approaches for clinical psychology and psychiatry. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 14, 91–118 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [136] Jacobson, N. C. & Chung, Y. J. Passive sensing of prediction of moment-to-moment depressed mood among undergraduates with clinical levels of depression sample using smartphones. Sensors 20, 3572 (2020). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Common factors were emphasized by the creators of MBSR and CBT but have rarely been emphasized in research seeking to understand how MBIs work.

    “Although common factors were emphasized by the creators of mindfulness-based stress reduction (for example, the influence of group support and expectation of relief21) and CBT (for example, the importance of therapist warmth and genuineness160), they have rarely been emphasized in research seeking to understand how MBIs work50 (with notable exceptions, such as the Mindfulness-Based Interventions:”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [21] Kabat-Zinn, J. An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation: theoretical considerations and preliminary results. Gen. Hosp. Psychiat. 4, 33–47 (1982). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [160] Kabat-Zinn, J. Full Catastrophe Living: How To Cope With Stress, Pain And Illness Using Mindfulness Meditation (Piatkus, 2013).

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [50] Gu, J., Strauss, C., Bond, R. & Cavanagh, K. How do mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction improve mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and meta-analysis of mediation studies. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 37, 1–12 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [156] Crane, R. S. & Kuyken, W. The Mindfulness-based Interventions: Teaching Assessment Criteria (MBI:TAC): reflections on implementation and development. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 28, 6–10 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

45 of 45
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings about common factors in psychotherapy are relevant to MBIs.

    “In this Perspective, I suggest that situating MBIs within the broader psychotherapy research literature and emphasizing the commonalities rather than differences between MBIs and other treatments might help guide future MBI research.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from psychotherapy research about common factors are relevant to MBIs.

    “contextualizing MBI research within psychotherapy research might help explain patterns seen in MBI RCTs”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Null results in dismantling trials reflect a true absence of specific ingredient effects rather than insufficient statistical power or measurement problems.

    “Arguably the most rigorous MBI dismantling trial found no differences in depressive relapse between full mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (with meditation practice) and dismantled mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (psychoeducation without meditation practice) over 12-month follow-up97.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Researcher allegiance bias can be adequately controlled for in meta-analyses to reveal true relative efficacy.

    “When this bias is controlled for, MBIs are no more effective than other therapies.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Therapeutic alliance measures in mHealth contexts capture the same construct as in-person psychotherapy.

    “There is also preliminary evidence that therapeutic alliance emerges within the context of unguided mHealth interventions124,125 (including mHealth MBIs126) and, as in in-person psychotherapy, is associated with outcomes124–126.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Common factors and specific ingredients are separable and can be studied independently.

    “Ultimately, common factors do not occur in a vacuum, but rather rely on specific ingredients (such as a cogent treatment rationale51).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    MBIs are a form of psychotherapy.

    “Viewing MBIs as another psychotherapy”
7 of 7

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?

  • Research on the mechanisms of mindfulness has predominantly focused on manualized group settings.

    “research on the mechanisms of mindfulness has predominantly focused on manualized group settings [12, 20, 21].”

    From Emotion Regulation as a Mechanism of Mindfulness in Individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Disorders (2024) · cites this paper as [21]

    The Introduction describes research into how mindfulness-based interventions work and identifies eight-week group-based training as one format. It also includes individual therapy, and the passages do not establish that mechanism research has predominantly focused on manualized group settings. (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Intervention modality is proposed to be crucial to domain-specific mental health gains.

    “Along with differing practice content, intervention modality is also proposed to be crucial to domain-specific mental health gains [34].”

    From 10-Week Trajectories of Candidate Psychological Processes Differentially Predict Mental Health Gains from Online Dyadic versus Mindfulness Interventions: A Randomized Clinical Trial (2024) · cites this paper as [34]

    The Conclusions (page unavailable) suggest that different delivery intensities might offer unique benefits, but say those benefits require further investigation. The paper does not propose that intervention modality is crucial to domain-specific mental health gains; its discussion of mobile delivery also says which elements matter most has not been established. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The field has not reached a consensus on the mechanisms that are specific to and shared across different MBCT adaptations and populations.

    “However, the field has not reached a consensus on the mechanisms that are specific to and shared across different MBCT adaptations and populations (Goldberg, 2022).”

    From The State- and Trait-Level Effects and Candidate Mechanisms of Four Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Practices: Two Exploratory Studies (2023) · cites this paper as Goldberg, 2022

    The Introduction (page not provided) describes MBI-specific mechanisms and common factors as active areas of research and debate, supporting the lack-of-consensus point. The paper addresses mindfulness-based interventions broadly; the cited passages do not establish that conclusion specifically across MBCT adaptations and populations. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The precise mechanisms through which mindfulness influences depression and anxiety symptoms remain poorly understood.

    “the precise mechanisms through which mindfulness influences depression and anxiety symptoms remain elusive [19–21].”

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Frank, J. D. & Frank, J. B. Persuasion and Healing: A Comparative Study of Psychotherapy 3rd edn (Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1993).

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Goldberg, S. B.
Affiliations
University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
Corresponding author
Goldberg, Simon B.
Venue
Nature Reviews Psychology
Published
2022-08-01
Volume
1
Issue
10
Pages
605-619
ISSN
2731-0574 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4289261545
Cited by
75
References
196
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 14
FWCI
2.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (K23AT010879)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
  • Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
Keywords
mindfulness-based interventions, common factors, non-specific treatment effects, psychotherapy mechanisms, psychological mechanisms, psychotherapy research, treatment comparison

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.

Claims read under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-09-28.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-09-28.

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