Can mindfulness and acceptance be learnt by self-help?: A systematic review and meta-analysis of mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help interventions

Abstract

Recommendations for research and practice are presented.

The Efficacy and Acceptability of Third-Wave Behavioral and Cognitive eHealth Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Spijkerman et al (2016), however, were unable to conduct subgroup analyses based on studies' type of comparison condition. Similarly, a systematic review by Cavanagh et al (2014) found that mindfulness-and acceptance-based self-help interventions had small statistically significant benefits on anxiety and depression outcomes relative to comparison conditions. Although Cavanagh et al (2014) included trials of books/workbooks, audio recordings, and Internet-delivered interventions, four of which are featured in this review, the current findings support and expand upon their conclusion that contextual or third-wave treatments can be delivered efficaciously in various formats.…”

“…Similarly, a systematic review by Cavanagh et al (2014) found that mindfulness-and acceptance-based self-help interventions had small statistically significant benefits on anxiety and depression outcomes relative to comparison conditions. Although Cavanagh et al (2014) included trials of books/workbooks, audio recordings, and Internet-delivered interventions, four of which are featured in this review, the current findings support and expand upon their conclusion that contextual or third-wave treatments can be delivered efficaciously in various formats. Conversely, the estimated effects of third-wave eHealth treatments in the current review are lower than those of third-wave therapies delivered in individual and group face-to-face format (Öst, 2008).…”

“…In accordance with Higgins et al (2011), studies with high or unclear risk of bias were compared with those at low risk of bias. In meta-regression analyses where a study included more than one comparison condition, the most common comparator across studies was chosen (Cavanagh et al, 2014;Spijkerman et al, 2016). In addition, funnel plots were visually inspected and Duval and Tweedie's (2000) trim-and-fill procedure was conducted to detect the presence of publication bias across studies and assess its impact on the metaanalyses.…”

“…A systematic review by Cavanagh, Strauss, Forder, and Jones (2014) meta-analytically synthesized the results of 15 randomized controlled trials of mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help interventions and found small statistically significant benefits on anxiety (g = 0.34) and depression (g = 0.37) outcomes relative to control conditions. Similarly, a recent meta-analytic review of 15 randomized controlled trials by Spijkerman, Pots, and Bohlmeijer (2016) also found that online mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) were superior to control conditions in improving mental health outcomes, with small to medium statistically significant benefits on anxiety (g = 0.22), depression (g = 0.29), and well-being (g = 0.23).…”

“…Similarly, a recent meta-analytic review of 15 randomized controlled trials by Spijkerman, Pots, and Bohlmeijer (2016) also found that online mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) were superior to control conditions in improving mental health outcomes, with small to medium statistically significant benefits on anxiety (g = 0.22), depression (g = 0.29), and well-being (g = 0.23). Although previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the efficacy of thirdwave treatments delivered in their traditional format Hunot et al, 2013;Öst, 2008) and examined the effectiveness of mindfulness and acceptance-based self-help interventions (Cavanagh et al, 2014), as well as online MBIs in improving mental health (Spijkerman et al, 2016), to date there has not been a review of the evidence base for thirdwave behavioral and cognitive eHealth therapies. The steady increase in citations of "third wave" in the scientific literature (Dimidjian et al, 2016) and proliferation of eHealth interventions delivering this therapeutic content (Pierce, Twohig, & Levin, 2016) underscores the importance of systematically reviewing the evidence for the efficacy and acceptability of third-wave eHealth treatments.…”