Effects of Brief Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes: a Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives Traditional mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been applied successfully across many populations. The time commitment for these programs is often a barrier, and while brief MBIs have become popular, the impact of these on healthrelated outcomes is unclear as they have not yet been reviewed. Methods A search of databases, including Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO, was conducted with qualitative and case studies being excluded. Findings were summarized using a narrative approach for all studies that met the inclusion criteria. Results With one exception, all 85 studies that were included were randomized controlled trials and were relatively robust methodologically. Seventy-nine reported significant positive effects on at least one health-related outcome and over a quarter targeted a clinical population. The majority of studies focused on psychological outcomes, such as anxiety and depression, as well as emotion regulation, stress, and cognitive outcomes. Conclusions Despite heterogeneity of outcomes across studies, there is evidence that brief MBIs can impact numerous healthrelated outcomes, after only one session and with interventions as brief as 5 min. These interventions have the potential to be the initial steps leading to sustainable and positive health outcomes. Keywords Mindfulness. Brief interventions. Systematic review. Health outcomes Mindfulness can be defined as an approach to experiencing everyday life by turning attention and awareness to the present moment without judgment (Kabat-Zinn 2006). Despite its Buddhist origins, mindfulness is now often a secular practice and is easily accessible to many, whether practiced in an individual's home or by attending a class (Hyland 2016). Mindfulness encompasses the key therapeutic concepts of acceptance, compassion, and detachment (Bogosian et al. 2016; Desrosiers et al. 2013; Pinto-Gouveia et al. 2014). As a therapy, the practice of mindfulness is predominately based on a chronic illness program that was originally Bformalized^as mindfulnessbased stress reduction (MBSR), a treatment for illness-related stress. More recently, the more cognitive treatment of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has emerged (Teasdale et al. 2000), principally as a treatment for depression. Over the years, mindfulness-based therapies (most commonly MBSR and MBCT) have been applied successfully to a range of clinical populations (Gotink et al. 2015) including patients recovering from cancer, patients with low back pain, and patients with general anxiety disorders (Cherkin et al. 2016; Evans 2016; Johns et al. 2015). This research has cumulated into a solid foundation of evidence supporting the use of mindfulness for clinical health conditions, as well as for the management of non-clinical conditions such as everyday stress and mood disturbances (

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