# A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Therapy Intervention on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

## TL;DR

Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy helps reduce PTSD symptoms and depression while improving quality of life and mindfulness.

## Contribution

This study provides the first meta-analysis showing MBSR's effectiveness in treating PTSD.

## Key findings

- MBSR significantly reduces depression scores in PTSD patients.
- Quality of life and mindfulness scores improve significantly with MBSR.
- PTSD symptoms and related checklist scores decrease significantly following MBSR.

## Abstract

This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on the treatment and improvement of traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Up until February 6, 2025, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of MBSR-based treatment for PTSD patients. RevMan 5.4 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK) was used to conduct a meta-analysis of these trials. A total of 832 participants from nine qualified randomized controlled trials were enrolled. Meta-analysis results showed that in PTSD patients, depression scores after Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention were significantly lower compared with the control group (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) = -0.25, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.10; P = 0.0006). Quality of life (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI 0.10-0.70; P = 0.008) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI 0.24-0.57; P < 0.00001) scores were significantly higher than in the control group. PTSD symptoms (SMD = -0.20, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.09; P = 0.0003), various PTSD checklist scores (SMD = -1.28, 95% CI -0.33 to -0.03; P = 0.02), and clinician-administered PTSD scale scores (SMD = -0.23, 95% CI -0.39 to -0.07; P = 0.004) were also significantly reduced following MBSR intervention. MBSR can reduce depression, PTSD symptoms, and improve the quality of life and mindfulness in PTSD patients.