Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for addiction treatment: definition, techniques, benefits, and effectivity

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a therapeutic interventional method designed to teach people to enhance mindfulness through practices like meditation and yoga. It was developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979.

The techniques of MBSR include deep breathing, body scan meditation, formal and informal mindfulness meditation, seated and walking meditation, mindful movement practices like gentle yoga and stretching, gratitude journaling, and group discussions. These techniques are taught by a trained instructor in a group setting in daily sessions spanning eight weeks.

The benefits of MBSR include managing chronic pain; reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety; easing mental stress; improving brain functionality; enhancing the quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and skin disorders; lowering blood pressure in hypertensive individuals; improving the symptoms of insomnia; and reducing the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

MBSR is effective in treating addiction because it works at the neuronal, physical, and psychological levels to reduce cravings and prevent relapses. It also eases symptoms of stress, which is a significant risk factor for developing addiction and relapsing after treatment.

What is mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)?

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a therapeutic interventional method that teaches people to increase mindfulness through practices like meditation and yoga, according to this October 2014 publication by the American Psychological Association Services, Inc., titled “Research roundup: Mindfulness-based stress reduction.” Mindfulness is the ability to attend intentionally and without judgment to what one is experiencing physically, emotionally, and cognitively in the present moment. In their 2017 article published in the journal Psychiatric Clinics of North America, titled “Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Anxiety and Depression,” authors Stefan G. Hofmann and Angelina F. Gómez mention that MBSR is one of the two most common variations of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), the other being mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).

Although it was developed to address chronic pain, MBSR is now being used in clinical and non-clinical settings to treat and/or manage the symptoms of a wide variety of physical and mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin problems, insomnia, and fibromyalgia. It is a complementary therapy that is used concurrently with other evidence-based treatment protocols. It is an established and evidence-based program spanning eight weeks. More than 720 medical centers and treatment clinics in the world offer MBSR.

Who created mindfulness-based stress reduction?

Mindfulness-based stress reduction was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. He is Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School where he founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Clinic in 1979. The first MBSR program was launched in 1979. Jon Kabat-Zinn envisioned MBSR as a public health initiative that evolved into an extensive global effort to promote increased health, well-being, and wisdom. Besides being known all over the world as a scientist, Kabat-Zinn is also a writer, meditation teacher, and yogi.

In a 2011 article published in the journal Contemporary Buddhism, titled “Some reflections on the origins of MBSR, skillful means, and the trouble with maps,” author Jon Kabat-Zinnexplains that he intended MBSR and other mindfulness-based interventions to be grounded in the principles of Buddhism without being restrained by the historical, cultural, and religious connotations imparted by its countries of origin and unique traditions prevalent in these places. Thus, he created MBSR based on the essence of Buddhism without relying on the words, texts, and teaching forms of traditional Buddhist settings to make the program appeal to a mainstream, secular audience and be relevant to diverse realities. He has explained the MBSR curriculum in his book “Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness,” which was published in 1990 and revised in 2013.

How does mindfulness-based stress reduction work?

Mindfulness-based stress reduction works by altering the patient’s emotional responses to stressful circumstances by shifting the way they perceive their problems.

According to this 2019 article titled “Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress” published by the American Psychological Association, the practice of mindfulness allows patients to dial down their bodily response to stress by acting at the neuronal level on the mechanisms involved in triggering stress and altering the brain structures and functions associated with attention and emotion regulation. Chronic stress is known to trigger and/or exacerbate many physical and mental health issues.

MBSR teaches patients to regulate their attention; be mindful of and attend non-judgmentally to their emotions, thoughts, bodily sensations, and the environment; accept the present moment; and become open to present experience, according to Frank John Ninivaggi in the section titled “Mindfulness Approaches in the West ” of the chapter Modern Mindfulness from the book Learned Mindfulness: Physician Engagement and M.D. Wellness published in 2020.

What techniques are used in mindfulness-based stress reduction?

The techniques used in mindfulness-based stress reduction are listed below.

• Deep breathing: Patients are taught to focus on their breath and control it. Slow, deep breathing is known to dampen the effects of the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with the stress response mechanism. According to this 2018 article by Zaccaro et al., published in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, titled “How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing,” slow breathing influences the functions of the autonomic and central nervous systems that, in turn, triggers several positive psychological benefits, such as increased feelings of relaxation, comfort, vigor, and alertness, and decreased symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger, and brain fog.
• Body scan meditation: This article by Edgar Meyer published in the June 16, 2021 edition of Anatomy Now, the official newsletter of the American Association for Anatomy, titled “The Body Scan: Mindfulness Meets Anatomy” explains the process of body scan meditation. The person doing body scan meditation focuses on specific regions of their body, notices the sensations they are experiencing in that region, and uses these sensations to anchor their mind to the present moment. They then breathe out any tension, stress, or pain they are experiencing in that region of the body. Body scan meditation is generally conducted with the person lying down and verbally guided by a facilitator. The scan typically begins from the feet, and the person gradually shifts their attention up their body till they reach their head. According to this 2013 article by Dreeben et al., published in the journal Mindfulness, titled “The MBSR Body Scan in Clinical Practice,” body scan meditation is a foundational technique of the MBSR program. It has been shown to improve general mental health.
• Mindfulness meditation: Mindfulness meditation means focusing the attention intentionally and neutrally on the experiences of the present moment. During mindfulness meditation, an individual focuses on their breath, a sound, a sight, a physical sensation, or the task at hand. Mindfulness meditation comprises formal and informal techniques. In formal mindfulness meditation, an individual allocates a specific time for the meditative practice and chooses a space devoid of distractions to focus their attention consciously and non-judgmentally on the activity they are performing in the present moment. Informal meditation involves weaving meditation into one’s daily life, either by allocating minute amounts of time, ranging from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, to pause and become still or by meditating while doing any activity. In the first method of informal meditation, the individual meditates while waiting for an event or transitioning from one task to another. In the second method of informal meditation, the individual goes into a meditative state when they are engaged in an activity, such as cleaning, cooking, or reading.
• Stretching and mindful movement: Yoga is a well-known form of stretching and mindful movement practice. MBSR integrates mindfulness with yoga so that the latter transforms into an activity that is much more than merely moving through a set of physical postures. In mindful yoga, the practitioner anchors their conscious attention to the particular yoga posture they are performing at the moment while coordinating it with their breath. According to this 2020 article by La Torre et al., published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, titled “Yoga and Mindfulness as a Tool for Influencing Affectivity, Anxiety, Mental Health, and Stress among Healthcare Workers: Results of a Single-Arm Clinical Trial,” combining mindfulness and yoga has a synergistic effect on brain-body interactions and mind states. The study notes that practicing mindful yoga exerts positive effects on the autonomous nervous system and the brain circuitry involved in the regulation of emotion and cognition.
• Seated and walking meditation: In seated meditation, the individual takes a pause from moving around to sit and focus on the present moment, with intention and without judgment. The object of conscious attention is usually a thought, a bodily sensation, their breath, a sound, or an emotion. According to this article titled “Sitting Meditation,” published on the website of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, dated 22 February 2023 and written by Cawood Fitzhugh, seated meditation encourages the practitioner to shift from doing to being, and thus, from a state of frantic activity to calm mindfulness. Walking meditation, on the other hand, introduces movement to the practice of mindfulness meditation. Here, the practitioner focuses on a range of bodily sensations. They focus on the sensation of their foot pressing into the ground, the muscles of their legs being engaged as they place one foot in front of the other, and how the ground and the act of walking feel.
• Gratitude journaling: Gratitude is an emotion, attitude, mental orientation to life, and habit that makes an individual search for, focus on, and appreciate the positive aspects of a stressful situation. According to this 2014 article by Dr. Steve Noonan published in The Canadian Veterinary Journal, titled “Mindfulness-based stress reduction,“ participants of the MBSR program are asked to keep a gratitude journal and a positive events log as part of their daily homework assignments. They have to reflect on and write down what they are grateful for in their lives and record the positive events that occurred during the day.
• Group dialogue: This takes place in a group setting where the participants of the MBSR program share their experiences of integrating mindfulness into their daily lives and discuss how to become increasingly more mindful in their lives.

What are the benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction?

The benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction are listed below.

• Managing chronic pain: MBSR has been proven to lessen chronic pain, increase an individual’s ability to cope with the pain, and improve their ability to function in daily life, according to this 2023 article by Harris et al., published in the journal Pharmacy, titled “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Chronic Pain Management in the Community Pharmacy Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the General Public’s Knowledge and Perceptions.” The clinical practice guidelines issued by the American College of Physicians recommend MBSR instead of conventional pharmacologic interventions to manage chronic low back pain. MBSR has been shown to have more significant benefits in improving daily functioning and decreasing the intensity of pain in patients with chronic low back pain than standard therapies.
• Reducing mental stress: According to this 2018 systematic review by Janssen et al., published in the journal PLoS One, titled “Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on employees’ mental health: A systematic review,” MBSR reduces stress in a healthy population. The authors cite several studies conducted on individuals employed in demanding workplaces characterized by high pressure. These studies consistently note that MBSR showed a significant decrease in stress levels in the individuals studied. Additionally, the studies reported a decrease in the level of emotional exhaustion and a lowering of psychological distress–a condition characterized by symptoms like anxiety, depression, and mood disturbances–in the participants.
• Reducing levels of anxiety and depression: According to this 2009 article by Alberto Chiesa and Alessandro Serretti published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, titled “Mindfulness-based stress reduction for stress management in healthy people: a review and meta-analysis,” MBSR reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression by decreasing the tendency to ruminate. Rumination involves thinking about or dwelling on negative feelings and events. The repetitive, negative aspect of rumination is a strong risk factor for developing depression and anxiety, according to this 2013 article by Michl et al., published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (now known as the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science), titled “Rumination as a Mechanism Linking Stressful Life Events to Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety: Longitudinal Evidence in Early Adolescents and Adults.“
• Improving cognitive function: According to this 2020 article by Marciniak et al., published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, titled “The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on Depression, Cognition, and Immunity in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Pilot Feasibility Study,” MBSR improved psychomotor speed performance in the sample population of elderly adults with mild cognitive impairment. The authors also cite studies that have shown that MBSR improves long-term memory, working memory, attention span, and overall cognitive capabilities in healthy elderly people. These effects depend on consistent meditation practice. The authors hypothesize that MBSR improves cognitive functionality through direct and indirect means. Indirectly, the therapy lessens the likelihood of neural damage by reducing the effect of factors like stress and depression. Directly, MBSR enhances cognitive capabilities by altering brain structures associated with memory and improving the brain’s resistance to damage. However, the findings related to MBSR improving cognitive capabilities are not consistent. So, it is likely that MBSR has only a protective effect that will stem future cognitive decline in the elderly population and possibly, delay the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia.
• Lowering blood pressure in hypertensive individuals: According to this 2018 article by Ana L. Solano López in the journal Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing, titled “Effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review of Literature,” MBSR is a promising behavioral complementary therapy to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive people. Mental stress is a significant risk factor for hypertension. While it is not always possible to eliminate the stressors from one’s life, MBSR reorients a person’s habitual mental outlook on life and patterns of thought so that they are able to perceive difficult life circumstances in a more positive and hopeful light and feel less anxious. However, the authors caution that more large-scale studies are needed to explore the efficacy of MBSR in reducing blood pressure.
• Treating addiction: According to this 2018 article by Goldberg et al., published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review, titled “Mindfulness-based interventions for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis,” mindfulness-based interventions like MBSR have been consistently shown to be effective in supporting addiction treatment. Authors Alfred et al., in their 2022 article titled “Mindfulness based stress reduction among substance abuse patients at de-addiction center” published in the journal Bioinformation, mention that MBSR reduces stress in patients undergoing addiction treatment. Stress is known to be a significant risk factor for addiction and relapse. According to this 2009 article by Zayda Vallejo and Hortensia Amaro published in the journal The Humanistic Psychologist, titled “Adaptation of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program for Addiction Relapse Prevention,” MBSR has the potential to prevent relapses in early phases of addiction treatment. According to Ekhtiari et al., in the section “Mindfulness Training” of the chapter “Neuroscience for Addiction Medicine: From Prevention to Rehabilitation – Constructs and Drugs” from the book Progress in Brain Research published in 2016, MBSR alters brain structures involved in attention and emotion regulation and helps the patient break away from the hold of automatic attentional biases to drug cues, which is a hallmark of substance use disorder.
• Enhancing quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses: According to this 2011 article by Asfandyar Khan Niazi and Shaharyar Khan Niazi published in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences, titled “Mindfulness-based stress reduction: a non-pharmacological approach for chronic illnesses,” MBSR therapy enhances the quality of life of patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and skin disorders. For instance, in cancer patients, MBSR works by reducing the symptoms and severity of depression, anxiety, anger, and confusion. MBSR therapy regulates mood disturbances, enhances vigor, and reduces confusion in these patients. The findings related to stress reduction and mood regulation were found to be consistent for both men and women of different ages with varied cancer diagnoses and in various stages of the illness. The authors also cite studies that have found that MBSR therapy eases symptoms of stress in people with diabetes mellitus and organ transplant recipients. Chronic diseases and life-changing medical processes like organ transplants cause considerable emotional distress due to the physical complications they entail and the mental stress that is involved in coping with and managing the symptoms. MBSR enhances the quality of life of these patients by changing how they perceive their stressful health conditions and teaching them to lovingly and non-judgmentally accept the way their body is working and/or responding to medical interventions.
• Easing symptoms of psoriasis: Psoriasis flare-ups are commonly associated with mental stress. Authors Kabat-Zinn et al., in their 1998 article titled “Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA)” published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine note that reducing stress by delivering a brief MBSR intervention during ultraviolet light therapy increased the speed at which psoriasis lesions cleared up in patients. According to this 2022 article by Bartholomew et al., published in the journal Dermatology and Therapy, titled “Mindfulness and Meditation for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review,” meditation and mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to improve symptoms of psoriasis related to the severity and the skin area affected. However, the authors note that many studies had small sample sizes and differed considerably with respect to methodologies and the type of mindfulness-based intervention used.
• Improving the quality of sleep in insomnia patients: According to this 2020 article by Chen et al., published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, titled “Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on sleep quality and mental health for insomnia patients: A meta-analysis,” MBSR was found to be an effective supplemental therapy for treating insomnia. In the study quoted in this article, the authors found that MBSR significantly improved the quality of sleep in patients with insomnia. Chronic poor sleep has a strong link to an increased likelihood of developing and/or worsening of existing conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, dementia, heart disease, dementia, and certain cancers.
• Reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia: Authors Adrienne L. Adler-Neal and Fadel Zeidan in their 2017 article titled “Mindfulness Meditation for Fibromyalgia: Mechanistic and Clinical Considerations” published in the journal Current Rheumatology Reportsnote that several studies have found MBSR to be effective in reducing symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, such as pain, chronic fatigue, stress, and sleep disturbances. However, the authors also caution that there is no conclusive evidence that MBSR is more effective than active control therapies in treating fibromyalgia symptoms. They suggest that an MBSR program that focuses on acceptance, detachment, and social bonding is more effective in treating fibromyalgia symptoms than active control regimens.

Where is mindfulness-based stress reduction used?

Mindfulness-based stress reduction is used for stress management and chronic pain and treating illnesses like depression, anxiety, hypertension, skin and immune disorders, and diabetes mellitus, according to this 2011 article by Asfandyar Khan Niazi and Shaharyar Khan Niazi published in the North American Journal of Medical Sciences, titled “Mindfulness-based stress reduction: a non-pharmacological approach for chronic illnesses.” The authors mention that MBSR is used to enhance the quality of life of patients with cancer and HIV/AIDS, and organ transplant recipients. Mindfulness meditation, which is an integral component of MBSR, has the potential for use in managing and improving symptoms of fibromyalgia, such as pain, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, and stress, according to this 2017 article by Adrienne L. Adler-Neal and Fadel Zeidan titled “Mindfulness Meditation for Fibromyalgia: Mechanistic and Clinical Considerations” published in the journal Current Rheumatology Reports.

MBSR results in an improvement in sleep quality in individuals diagnosed with insomnia, according to this 2015 article by Taylor et al., published in the journal Current Sleep Medicine Reports, titled “Third-Wave Therapies for Insomnia.” Authors Offenbächer et al., in their 2021 article titled “A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Programme in Patients Suffering from Atopic Dermatitis” published in the journal Psychmention that MBSR is a promising adjunctive therapy to manage atopic dermatitis.

MBSR is also used for patients undergoing addiction treatment. According to this 2021 article by Sarvandani et al., published in the International Journal of Health Studies, titled “The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Treatment on Anxiety, Depression and Prevention of Substance Use Relapse,” MBSR is effective in preventing relapse in recovering addicts. Authors Vallejo and Amaro in their 2009 article titled “Adaptation of mindfulness-based stress reduction program for addiction relapse prevention” published in the journal The Humanistic Psychologist mention that MBSR has immense potential in preventing relapse during the early recovery phase of addiction treatment.

Is mindfulness-based stress reduction effective in treating addiction?

Yes, mindfulness-based stress reduction is effective in treating addiction because the mindfulness meditation component of the therapy, in particular, has a significant impact on reducing substance misuse, cravings, and relapses, according to this 2018 article by Eric L. Garland and Matthew O. Howard published in the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, titled “Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research.”

Additionally, mindfulness training is shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and enhance feelings of positivity and an individual’s ability to cope with life’s difficult circumstances, according to Ekhtiari et al., in the section “Mindfulness Training” of the chapter “Neuroscience for Addiction Medicine: From Prevention to Rehabilitation – Constructs and Drugs” from the book Progress in Brain Research published in 2016. Alcohol and drug misuse and relapses following treatment are strongly related to chronic mental stress, according to this 2009 article by Marianne T. Marcus and Aleksandra Zgierska published in the journal Substance Abuse, titled “Mindfulness-Based Therapies for Substance Use Disorders: Part 1 (Editorial).”

Authors Ekhtiari et al., (2016) also mention that mindfulness training induces structural changes in brain centers involved in attention regulation, self-control, and metacognitive awareness. The authors believe that these traits reduce the tendency to automatically react to drug cues, thereby reducing cravings, substance use, and bingeing. The use of prescription painkillers is a significant contributor to the present opioid abuse crisis. By reducing chronic pain, MBSR lessens the patient’s dependence on opioid painkillers and subsequently, reduces the likelihood of the person developing an addiction to the substance.

Authors Garland and Howard (2018) note that the first generation of mindfulness-based therapies like MBSR has contributed to the development of mindfulness-based interventions tailored to address the underlying neural, cognitive, and psychological mechanisms of addiction. These include mindfulness training for smokers, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), and Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE).

What does a typical MBSR session for addiction treatment look like?

A typical MBSR session for addiction treatment looks like an educational session in a specific mindfulness practice, such as mindfulness meditation, mindful movement that includes yoga and/or walking meditation, seated meditation, body scan meditation, and mindful breathing, according to this 2018 article by Shapero et al., published in Focus, a journal by the American Psychiatric Association, titled “Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry.” The sessions are usually delivered in a group setting.

According to this 2018 article by Eric L. Garland and Matthew O. Howard published in the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, titled “Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research,” each participant is guided by a trained instructor. During the sessions, participants share their experiences in mindfulness practice. Mindfulness-based therapy sessions for addiction treatment go beyond what is taught by the instructor. The therapy consists of a homework component where participants are required to complete assignments like writing a gratitude journal and/or recording cravings and negative thoughts. Another component of daily homework includes guided and unguided meditation practices.

How many sessions are required for mindfulness-based stress reduction for addiction treatment?

On an average, eight weekly sessions are required for mindfulness-based stress reduction for addiction treatment, according to Alfred et al., in their 2022 article titled “Mindfulness based stress reduction among substance abuse patients at de-addiction center” published in the journal Bioinformation. The author mentions that MBSR is delivered over a period of eight weeks, and during this 8-week program, two hour-long sessions are conducted each day.

Additionally, certain programs include a single day-long retreat, according to this 2018 article by Shapero et al., published in Focus, a journal by the American Psychiatric Association, titled “Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Psychiatry.” However, Demarzo et al., in their 2017 article, titled “Efficacy of 8- and 4-Session Mindfulness-Based Interventions in a Non-clinical Population: A Controlled Study,” published in the journal Frontiers in Psychologyrefer to derivations of the MBSR program where the sessions span 120-150 minutes and the voluntary retreats are full-day or half-day long.

According to this 2018 article by Eric L. Garland and Matthew O. Howard published in the journal Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, titled “Mindfulness-based treatment of addiction: current state of the field and envisioning the next wave of research,” most mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for addiction treatment, such as MBRP and MORE, are based on the original MBSR program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. On an average, these programs span two months. In order to achieve complete remission from moderate-to-severe addiction, patients have to go through additional weekly treatment sessions after the conventional 8-week program. A few patients need to go through periodic booster sessions after the standard 8-week program to prolong the benefits of the treatment. However, it is also possible for positive and concrete results to manifest in much less than eight weeks. For instance, the authors mention a small randomized control trial where two weeks of mindfulness practice brought about a considerable reduction in smoking in participants with nicotine addiction.

Demarzo et al., (2017) mention that there have been attempts to shorten the duration of mindfulness programs to make them more feasible for diverse segments of clinical and non-clinical populations and different contexts and/or diagnoses. So, programs have experimented with the number of sessions (ranging from four to seven), the duration of each session (from an hour to two hours long), and the inclusion of day-long retreats (from not including one to having one that spans six hours). These deviations are always based on the standard 2.5-hour, 8-session MBSR protocol that also includes a day-long session spanning eight hours.

What are the differences between mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?

The differences between mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) comprise differences in their core operational philosophies, treatment modalities, and how they benefit individuals with varied diagnoses. The differences are described in the table below.

What are the differences between mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness therapy?

The differences between mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness therapy are related to the techniques involved in the treatment modality and the primary health issues they address. The differences are described in the table below.