Chu CS, et al. – This research aimed to assess the efficacy of mindfulness–based interventions (MBIs) as an adjunctive treatment in bipolar disorder (BD) through a systematic review and meta–analysis. The results of this meta–analysis suggested significantly beneficial effects on depressive and anxiety symptoms of BD patients in within–group analysis. However, this significance was not seen in comparison with the control groups.

Methods

• For this study, major electronic databases were independently hunt by 2 authors for controlled and uncontrolled studies which analyzed the impacts of MBIs on psychiatric symptoms in subjects with BD.
• Using a random effects model, data from original studies were synthesized.

Results

• 12 trials were eligible for inclusion into current meta-analysis, including 3 controlled studies (n=132) and 9 uncontrolled studies (n=142).
• MBIs significantly lessened depressive (7 studies, n=100, Hedges’ g=0.58, p<0.001) and anxiety (4 studies, n=68, Hedges’ g=0.34, p=0.043) symptoms, however, not manic symptoms (6 studies, n=89, Hedges’ g=0.09, p=0.488) and cognition (3 studies, n=43, Hedges’ g=0.35, p=0.171), compared to baseline in within-group analysis.
• MBIs did not diminish depressive (3 studies, n=132, Hedges’ g=0.46, p=0.315) or anxiety (3 studies, n=132, Hedges’ g=0.33, p=0.578) symptoms in between-group analysis (intervention group versus waiting list group, all patients with BD).