Effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral interventions that include mindfulness for clinically-diagnosed anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kirk, Megan A.; Pirbaglou, Meysam; Weerasekera, Rasanjala; Ritvo, Paul

doi:10.1080/00207411.2021.1959807

Cited by 11Digital Mental Health InterventionsMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral interventions that include mindfulness for clinically-diagnosed anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kirk, Megan A., Pirbaglou, Meysam, Weerasekera, Rasanjala, Ritvo, Paul·2022·International Journal of Mental Health

DOI 10.1080/00207411.2021.1959807

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Abstract

Background Online cognitive behavioral interventions that include mindfulness techniques have attracted considerable attention given the demonstrated mental health benefits of mindfulness and the availability of scalable opportunities for increased therapeutic use. However, comparatively little is known about the effectiveness of these types of interventions when they are delivered to clinician-diagnosed populations receiving psychiatric treatment.Aims This review evaluates therapeutic interventions that included a mindfulness component aimed at reducing anxiety and depression symptoms in clinician-diagnosed samples.Methods Randomized control trials (RCTs) published between January 1990 to September 2020 assessing the effects of online cognitive behavioral interventions that include a mindfulness component were searched across five databases (Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science).Results Eleven studies met inclusion criteria with sample sizes ranging from 37 to 84 per study. Findings revealed an overall statistically significant moderate between-group difference at post-intervention for depression (Hedges’ g = −0.47) and anxiety (Hedges’ g = −0.40) outcomes favoring the online treatment groups. Further analyses revealed larger effect sizes among RCTs employing waitlist control (WLC) comparisons, and reductions in depression symptoms within the intervention groups to be above the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for BDI-II.Conclusions Findings from this meta-analytic review provide preliminary support for including mindfulness practices within existing therapeutic programs to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in clinician-diagnosed populations. Research implications and priorities for online mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral programming are discussed.

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Recent literature suggested that incorporating mindfulness may enhance the benefits derived from traditional therapies.
“Recent literature suggested that incorporating mindfulness may enhance the benefits derived from traditional therapies [17].”
From Web-Based Mindfulness Meditation as an Adjunct to Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation Study (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis reported that mindfulness-enhanced iCBT has demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety and depression in clinical populations, above and beyond comparison conditions.
“Moreover, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis reported that mindfulness-enhanced iCBT has demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety and depression in clinical populations, above and beyond comparison conditions [17], but to date, no research has focused on offering web-based mindfulness-enhanced iCBT for PSP.”
From Web-Based Mindfulness Meditation as an Adjunct to Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation Study (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
The addition of mindfulness resources represents a promising addition to iCBT with PSP, given the growing research attention on the benefits of mindfulness and its use in CBT.
“The addition of mindfulness resources represents a promising addition to iCBT with PSP, given the growing research attention on the benefits of mindfulness [14-16] and its use in CBT [17].”
From Web-Based Mindfulness Meditation as an Adjunct to Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation Study (2024) · cites this paper as [17]
Mindfulness practice has been successfully integrated within face-to-face interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.
“Mindfulness practice has been successfully integrated within face-to-face interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy [17].”
From Web-Based Mindfulness Meditation as an Adjunct to Internet-Delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Public Safety Personnel: Mixed Methods Feasibility Evaluation Study (2024) · cites this paper as [17]

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Authors: Kirk, M. A., Pirbaglou, M., Weerasekera, R., & Ritvo, P.
Affiliations: York University (CA)
University of Toronto (CA)
University Health Network (CA)
Corresponding author: Ritvo, Paul
ORCID: Kirk, Megan A.
Pirbaglou, Meysam
Ritvo, Paul
Venue: International Journal of Mental Health
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2021-11-10
Volume: 51
Issue: 3
Pages: 235-266
ISSN: 0020-7411 (ISSN-L)
1557-9328
DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2021.1959807
OpenAlex: W3213726799
Cited by: 10
References: 63
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1
FWCI: 0.16
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: International Journal of Mental Health (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords: internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, anxiety disorders, depression, waitlist control, treatment effectiveness, digital mental health interventions, symptom relief

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Effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral interventions that include mindfulness for clinically-diagnosed anxiety and depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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