Acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness-based interventions in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Populations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionate burden of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often exacerbated by conflict, poverty, and limited healthcare infrastructure. The gap between the need for and the availability of mental health services is particularly wide in these settings. Third-wave psychotherapies, such as Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), are transdiagnostic approaches that have demonstrated efficacy in high-income countries for a range of mental health issues. These interventions, which focus on processes like acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action, are well-suited for task-shifting to non-specialist providers, a key strategy for scaling up mental health care in LMICs. While individual studies and some regional reviews exist, a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis is needed to synthesize the global evidence on the efficacy of these specific interventions for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in LMIC contexts. This review will provide a robust estimate of their effectiveness, identify gaps in the literature, and inform clinical practice and policy for scaling up evidence-based mental health care where it is most needed.
Language: Spanish
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Universidad de los Andes
OpenAlex ID: W7223449850