Mindfulness‐based approaches: are they all the same?

Mindfulness-based approaches are increasingly used to treat psychological, psychiatric, and physical problems, including ancient Buddhist meditations (Vipassana, Zen), modern group-based programs (mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy), and psychological interventions (dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy). This review examines their commonalities and differences in philosophical background, techniques, aims, outcomes, neurobiology, and psychological mechanisms. The interventions show large differences in how mindfulness is conceptualized and practiced. Whether these practices are considered unitary or distinct will likely influence future research directions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mindfulness-based approaches are increasingly employed as interventions for treating a variety of psychological, psychiatric and physical problems. Such approaches include ancient Buddhist mindfulness meditations such as Vipassana and Zen meditations, modern group-based standardized meditations, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and further psychological interventions, such as dialectical behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. We review commonalities and differences of these interventions regarding philosophical background, main techniques, aims, outcomes, neurobiology and psychological mechanisms. In sum, the currently applied mindfulness-based interventions show large differences in the way mindfulness is conceptualized and practiced. The decision to consider such practices as unitary or as distinct phenomena will probably influence the direction of future research.