Psykologisk Institut

TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparing the efficacy of mindfulness-based therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy for depression in head-to-head randomized controlled trials

T2 - A systematic review and meta-analysis of equivalence

AU - Sverre, Kristine Trettø

AU - Nissen, Eva Rames

AU - Farver-Vestergaard, Ingeborg

AU - Johannsen, Maja

AU - Zachariae, Robert

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors

PY - 2023/3

Y1 - 2023/3

N2 - Background: While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is recommended as first-line treatment for depression, a significant minority do not show an adequate treatment response. Despite evidence for the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) both in treating current depression and preventing relapse, it remains unknown whether MBT and CBT are equivalent in the treatment of current depression. Methods: Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing MBT with CBT and including depression as primary or secondary outcome. Results: When pooling the results of 30 independent RCTs with a total of 2750 participants, MBT and CBT were statistically significantly equivalent at both post-intervention (Hedges's g = −0.009; p < .001) and follow-up (g = −0.033; p = .001). Supplementary Bayesian analyses provided further support for the alternative hypothesis of no difference between MBT and CBT. When exploring possible sources of heterogeneity, the differences at follow-up were smaller between CBT and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) than between CBT and mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) (Slope = 0.37;p = .022). Conclusion: The currently available evidence suggests that that MBT and CBT are equally efficacious in treating current adult depression. It remains unclear whether the similar effects of the two intervention types are due to different mechanisms or common factors.

AB - Background: While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is recommended as first-line treatment for depression, a significant minority do not show an adequate treatment response. Despite evidence for the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Therapies (MBT) both in treating current depression and preventing relapse, it remains unknown whether MBT and CBT are equivalent in the treatment of current depression. Methods: Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing MBT with CBT and including depression as primary or secondary outcome. Results: When pooling the results of 30 independent RCTs with a total of 2750 participants, MBT and CBT were statistically significantly equivalent at both post-intervention (Hedges's g = −0.009; p < .001) and follow-up (g = −0.033; p = .001). Supplementary Bayesian analyses provided further support for the alternative hypothesis of no difference between MBT and CBT. When exploring possible sources of heterogeneity, the differences at follow-up were smaller between CBT and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) than between CBT and mindfulness-based stress-reduction (MBSR) (Slope = 0.37;p = .022). Conclusion: The currently available evidence suggests that that MBT and CBT are equally efficacious in treating current adult depression. It remains unclear whether the similar effects of the two intervention types are due to different mechanisms or common factors.

KW - Adults

KW - Affective disorders

KW - Mindfulness-based interventions

KW - Psychological treatment

KW - Psychotherapy

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144031538&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102234

DO - 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102234

M3 - Review

C2 - 36527794

AN - SCOPUS:85144031538

VL - 100

JO - Clinical Psychology Review

JF - Clinical Psychology Review

SN - 0272-7358

M1 - 102234

ER -