Question 1

When is mindfulness contraindicated?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness has few absolute contraindications, but formal or intensive meditation should generally be postponed during acute mania, severe behavioural disorganisation, an uncontrolled psychotic crisis, or an immediate suicidal crisis until the person has been stabilised. PTSD, psychosis and dissociation are not automatic contraindications, but practices may need to be shorter, externally anchored, trauma-sensitive and delivered by a clinician experienced with the condition. Stop or modify the exercise if it increases dissociation, flashbacks, agitation, insomnia, perceptual disturbance or loss of functioning. Mindfulness should complement — not replace — appropriate psychiatric assessment and treatment.

Question 2

What is the evidence base for mindfulness in psychiatry?

Accepted Answer

MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy) has the strongest evidence, with multiple meta-analyses showing it reduces relapse risk in recurrent depression comparably to maintenance antidepressants. MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) shows moderate effects on anxiety and depression symptoms versus treatment as usual, though it has not consistently outperformed active comparators like CBT. Both approaches appear to work by reducing rumination and cognitive reactivity.

Question 3

How is this tool different from other mindfulness apps?

Accepted Answer

The mindfulness studio uses AI to generate sessions tailored to your patient's specific clinical situation — their diagnosis, current symptoms, and therapeutic goals — rather than offering a fixed library of generic recordings. This lets you prescribe a relevant mindfulness exercise in seconds, without searching through a catalog.

Mindfulness and Breathing Exercises

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