{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T01:19:40Z","timestamp":1792027180482,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,20]],"date-time":"2023-04-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1681948800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100012325","name":"Bergische Universit\u00e4t Wuppertal","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100012325","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychiatry"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title><jats:p>Bodily distress, i.e., somatoform disorders and associated functional somatic syndromes, is highly prevalent, often persistent and highly disabling. It has been proposed that \u201cthird wave\u201d therapies may be beneficial variants of cognitive behavioral treatments. However, evidence on their efficacy is scarce. This meta-analysis examines the efficacy of \u201cthird wave\u201d psychotherapies (mindfulness-based cognitive therapy [MBCT], mindfulness-based stress reduction [MBSR], and acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT]) in adults with bodily distress.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method<\/jats:title><jats:p>We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) treating adults with bodily distress using MBCT, MBSR, and ACT compared to inactive and non-specific control groups. A random effects model was used. The primary outcome was somatic symptom severity. Secondary outcomes were degrees of depression and of anxiety, health anxiety, perceived health status, mindfulness, psychological inflexibility, and pain acceptance.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Sixteen RCTs with 1,288 participants were included in the analysis (<jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 4 MBCT, <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 7 MBSR, <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 5 ACT; <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 7 fibromyalgia, <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 5 irritable bowel syndrome, <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 1 chronic fatigue syndrome, <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 2 bodily distress, <jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 1 medically unexplained symptoms). However, not all studies provided data for each of the relevant outcomes. The analyses revealed that \u201cthird wave\u201c therapies were more effective than control conditions in reducing somatic symptom severity (<jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic> = 15, <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic> = 1,100, <jats:italic>g<\/jats:italic> = \u22120.51, 95%CI \u22120.69; \u22120.32). Heterogeneity was moderate (<jats:italic>I<\/jats:italic><jats:sup>2<\/jats:sup> = 52.8%, 95%CI 15.1 to 73.8). Effects for secondary outcomes were small to moderate with varying degrees of heterogeneity. We did not find differences between the different therapy approaches (mindfulness- vs. acceptance-based therapies); neither therapy dosis (i.e., total duration of therapy sessions) nor number of sessions were significant moderators of efficacy.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>The therapies addressing mindfulness and acceptance proved to be more effective than control conditions. Hence, they are promising treatment approaches for bodily distress. However, there is still need for research on which patient groups may benefit from these psychological approaches.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:ext-link>https:\/\/osf.io\/g7hby<\/jats:ext-link>, identifier: 10.17605\/OSF.IO\/4RZGC.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1160908","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,20]],"date-time":"2023-04-20T19:42:11Z","timestamp":1682019731000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":37,"title":["Efficacy of mindfulness- and acceptance-based cognitive-behavioral therapies for bodily distress in adults: a meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Frederic","family":"Maas genannt Bermpohl","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lea","family":"H\u00fclsmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexandra","family":"Martin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1159\/000484413","article-title":"Management of functional somatic syndromes and bodily distress","volume":"87","author":"Henningsen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychother Psychosom."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"CD011142","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD011142","article-title":"Non-pharmacological interventions for somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) in adults","author":"van Dessel","year":"2014","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1027\/2151-2604\/a000399","article-title":"Medically unexplained symptoms and bodily distress","volume":"228","author":"Martin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Z Psychol."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.32872\/cpe.v1i1.32217","article-title":"Third wave treatments for functional somatic syndromes and health anxiety across the age span: a narrative review","volume":"1","author":"Frostholm","year":"2019","journal-title":"CPE."},{"key":"B5","author":"Segal","year":"2018","journal-title":"Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse. 2"},{"key":"B6","volume-title":"Full Catastrophe Living: Using The Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. Revised and updated edition Revised Edition","author":"Kabat-Zinn","year":"2013"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"639","DOI":"10.1016\/S0005-7894(04)80013-3","article-title":"Acceptance and commitment therapy, relational frame theory, and the third wave of behavioral and cognitive therapies","volume":"35","author":"Hayes","year":"2004","journal-title":"Behav Ther."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153745","article-title":"How to use the new DSM-5 somatic symptom disorder diagnosis in research and practice: a critical evaluation and a proposal for modifications","volume":"10","author":"Rief","year":"2014","journal-title":"Annu Rev Clin Psychol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.31372\/\/20200501.1082","article-title":"What works in mindfulness interventions for medically unexplained symptoms? A systematic review","volume":"5","author":"Billones","year":"2020","journal-title":"Asian Pac Isl Nurs J."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0221897","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0221897","article-title":"Mindfulness- and acceptance-based interventions for patients with fibromyalgia - a systematic review and meta-analyses","volume":"14","author":"Haugmark","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"553","DOI":"10.3238\/arztebl.2019.0553","article-title":"Functional somatic symptoms","volume":"116","author":"Roenneberg","year":"2019","journal-title":"Dtsch Arztebl Int."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e71834","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0071834","article-title":"Mindfulness-based therapies in the treatment of somatization disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"8","author":"Lakhan","year":"2013","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1008","DOI":"10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000502","article-title":"Core outcome domains for clinical trials on somatic symptom disorder, bodily distress disorder, and functional somatic syndromes: european network on somatic symptom disorders recommendations","volume":"79","author":"Rief","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychosom Med."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA. statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"2021","author":"Page","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ."},{"key":"B15","unstructured":"Version 4.2.1. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing2022"},{"key":"B16","unstructured":"Methodenpapier des Wissenschaftlichen Beirats Psychotherapie: Verfahrensregeln zur Beurteilung der wissenschaftlichen Anerkennung von Methoden und Verfahren der Psychotherapie [Methods Paper of the Scientific Advisory Board for Psychotherapy: Rules of Procedure for the Assessment of the Scientific Recognition of Methods Procedures of Psychotherapy].2019"},{"key":"B17","unstructured":"Microsoft Excel2018"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"l4898","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.l4898","article-title":"RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials","volume":"366","author":"Sterne","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ."},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychores.2017.04.013","article-title":"Associations of treatment effects between follow-up times and between outcome domains in interventions for somatoform disorders: review of three Cochrane reviews","volume":"98","author":"Chowdhury","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Psychosom Res."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"645","DOI":"10.1007\/s40273-016-0389-9","article-title":"Health, health-related quality of life, and quality of life: what is the difference?","volume":"34","author":"Karimi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pharmacoeconomics."},{"key":"B21","volume-title":"Meta-Analyses in Mental Health Research: A Practical Guide","author":"Cuijpers","year":"2016"},{"key":"B22","volume-title":"Metaanalyse: Eine anwendungsorientierte Einf\u00fchrung [Meta-analysis: an practical introduction].","author":"Rustenbach","year":"2003"},{"key":"B23","unstructured":"Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions\n            HigginsJPT\n            ThomasJ\n            ChandlerJ\n            CumpstonM\n            LiT\n            Page MJ etal\n          35352103Cochrane.2021"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1027\/0044-3409.215.2.90","article-title":"Current methods for meta-analysis","volume":"215","author":"Schulze","year":"2007","journal-title":"Z Psychol."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1093\/ije\/dys222","article-title":"Evaluation of inconsistency in networks of interventions","volume":"42","author":"Veroniki","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Epidemiol."},{"key":"B26","unstructured":"HarrerM\n            CuijpersP\n            FurukawaTA\n            EbertDD\n          Doing Meta-Analysis in R: A Hands-on Guide.2019"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"725","DOI":"10.1016\/S2215-0366(17)30153-0","article-title":"Control conditions for randomised trials of behavioural interventions in psychiatry: a decision framework","volume":"4","author":"Gold","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lancet Psychiatry."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.brat.2017.04.006","article-title":"How durable is the effect of low intensity CBT for depression and anxiety? Remission and relapse in a longitudinal cohort study","volume":"94","author":"Ali","year":"2017","journal-title":"Behav Res Ther."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.1002\/jrsm.1053","volume":"3","author":"Olkin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Res Synth Methods."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"629","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.315.7109.629","article-title":"Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test","volume":"315","author":"Egger","year":"1997","journal-title":"BMJ."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"534","DOI":"10.1037\/a0033242","article-title":"P-curve: a key to the file-drawer","volume":"143","author":"Simonsohn","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Exp Psychol Gen."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1020786917988","article-title":"Mindfulness-based stress reduction and sense of coherence among women with fibromyalgia","volume":"9","author":"Weissbecker","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Clin Psychol Med Settings."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1007\/s12160-014-9665-0","article-title":"Mindfulness meditation alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms in women: results of a randomized clinical trial","volume":"49","author":"Cash","year":"2015","journal-title":"Ann Behav Med."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1002\/art.22478","article-title":"Mindfulness meditation alleviates depressive symptoms in women with fibromyalgia: results of a randomized clinical trial","volume":"57","author":"Sephton","year":"2007","journal-title":"Arthritis Rheum."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"599","DOI":"10.1002\/j.1532-2149.2012.00224.x","article-title":"Acceptance and commitment therapy for fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"17","author":"Wicksell","year":"2013","journal-title":"Eur J Pain."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1495","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2012.04.010","article-title":"Cognitive Behavioral Therapy increases pain-evoked activation of the prefrontal cortex in patients with fibromyalgia","volume":"153","author":"Jensen","year":"2012","journal-title":"Pain."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.2307\/2529310","article-title":"The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data","volume":"33","author":"Landis","year":"1977","journal-title":"Biometrics."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcbs.2019.11.009","article-title":"Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy for irritable bowel syndrome non-patients: a pilot randomized waiting list controlled trial","volume":"15","author":"Ito","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Contextual Behav Sci."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"693","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2013.12.029","article-title":"Effectiveness of group acceptance and commitment therapy for fibromyalgia: a 6-month randomized controlled trial (EFFIGACT study)","volume":"155","author":"Luciano","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pain."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1015","DOI":"10.1007\/s10608-013-9538-z","article-title":"Effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia: a randomised trial","volume":"37","author":"Parra-Delgado","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cogn Ther Res."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2508","DOI":"10.1097\/j.pain.0000000000001655","article-title":"A randomized controlled efficacy trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction compared with an active control group and usual care for fibromyalgia: the EUDAIMON study","volume":"160","author":"P\u00e9rez-Aranda","year":"2019","journal-title":"Pain."},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pain.2010.10.043","article-title":"Treating fibromyalgia with mindfulness-based stress reduction: results from a 3-armed randomized controlled trial","volume":"152","author":"Schmidt","year":"2011","journal-title":"Pain."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpain.2018.02.004","article-title":"Randomized controlled trial of online acceptance and commitment therapy for fibromyalgia","volume":"19","author":"Simister","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Pain."},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1678","DOI":"10.1038\/ajg.2011.184","article-title":"Mindfulness training reduces the severity of irritable bowel syndrome in women: results of a randomized controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol","volume":"106","author":"Gaylord","year":"2011"},{"key":"B45","first-page":"175","article-title":"Comparing the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy with emotion regulation treatment on quality of life and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome","volume":"13","author":"Ghandi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Iran J Psychiatry."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1037\/ccp0000483","article-title":"A randomized clinical trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for women with irritable bowel syndrome-effects and mechanisms","volume":"88","author":"Henrich","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Consult Clin Psychol."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1007\/s12529-012-9241-6","article-title":"Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms: a randomized wait-list controlled trial","volume":"20","author":"Zernicke","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Behav Med."},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1002\/cpp.793","article-title":"Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for people with chronic fatigue syndrome still experiencing excessive fatigue after cognitive behaviour therapy: a pilot randomized study","volume":"20","author":"Rimes","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Psychother."},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1005","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291718001666","article-title":"Acceptance and Commitment group Therapy for patients with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a three-armed trial comparing ACT in a brief and extended version with enhanced care","volume":"49","author":"Pedersen","year":"2019","journal-title":"Psychol Med"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpsychores.2012.09.006","article-title":"Mindfulness therapy for somatization disorder and functional somatic syndromes: randomized trial with one-year follow-up","volume":"74","author":"Fjorback","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Psychosom Res"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1159\/000348588","article-title":"Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"82","author":"van Ravesteijn","year":"2013","journal-title":"PPS."},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1159\/000101501","article-title":"Mindfulness training as an intervention for fibromyalgia: evidence of postintervention and 3-year follow-up benefits in well-being","volume":"76","author":"Grossman","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychother Psychosom."},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"146","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2010.09.001","article-title":"Efficacy of short-term psychotherapy for multiple medically unexplained physical symptoms: a meta-analysis","volume":"31","author":"Kleinst\u00e4uber","year":"2011","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev."},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1186\/2046-4053-2-107","article-title":"Risk of bias: a simulation study of power to detect study-level moderator effects in meta-analysis","volume":"2","author":"Hempel","year":"2013","journal-title":"Syst Rev."},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1080\/10503307.2017.1405168","article-title":"Efficacy of group psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials","volume":"29","author":"Schwartze","year":"2019","journal-title":"Psychother Res."},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"456","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2019.00456","article-title":"Placebo effects in psychotherapy: a framework","volume":"10","author":"Enck","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychiatry"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1160908\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,20]],"date-time":"2023-04-20T19:42:18Z","timestamp":1682019738000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1160908\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,20]]},"references-count":56,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1160908"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2023.1160908","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-0640"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-0640","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,20]]},"article-number":"1160908"}}