Mindfulness did not outperform escitalopram on overall self-compassion
Among adults with anxiety disorders, self-compassion improved across treatment groups, with differences reported for selected subscales rather than overall superiority.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The trial asked whether mindfulness training improved self-compassion more than escitalopram in adults with anxiety disorders. It did not show a general advantage for mindfulness, although results differed on the mindfulness and common-humanity subscales. These findings concern self-compassion scores and do not establish which approach better treats anxiety symptoms or which treatment someone should choose.
The abstract does not provide an effect estimate or confidence interval for overall self-compassion. This abstract-based account cannot establish equivalence, and the subscale results should not be treated as proof of broader treatment superiority.
What researchers found
Self-compassion on the Self-Compassion Scale
MBSR did not show greater improvement than escitalopram at the reported assessments in an 8-week virtual trial; this does not establish equivalence.
What researchers measured
Participants completed a scale covering overall self-compassion and its component domains. The analysis tracked changes over time and compared the treatments, so the central question was whether mindfulness produced greater improvement.
How to read the subscales
The mindfulness group showed greater gains on the mindfulness subscale and improvement in common humanity, where the medication group changed little. These narrower findings should be distinguished from the overall result.
The original publication
Effects of MBSR and escitalopram on self-compassion in anxiety disorders.
Baker AW, Philip SR, Armstrong CH et al.
J Psychiatr Res · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41759355
- Record checked
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