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The effect and neural changes underlying mindfulness meditation training in patients with comorbid internet gaming disorder and depression: A randomized clinical trial
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  • Published: 18 February 2026

The effect and neural changes underlying mindfulness meditation training in patients with comorbid internet gaming disorder and depression: A randomized clinical trial

  • Xuefeng Xu  ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0005-0719-02191,
  • Huabin Wang1,
  • Shaoyu Cui  ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0005-8117-15691,
  • Chang Liu2,
  • Xiaolan Song  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-0457-42233 &
  • …
  • Guang-Heng Dong  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8813-87301 

Translational Psychiatry , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Addiction
  • Neuroscience

Abstract

Internet gaming disorder (IGD) has been recognized as a serious mental illness and is often accompanied by depression (IGD-D). An ideal treatment strategy should have effects on both the conditions. Mindfulness meditation (MM) has attracted substantial attention for the treatment of psychiatric diseases; however, its effects on IGD-D and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. A total of 70 patients with IGD-D were randomly divided into the MM and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) groups. Of these patients, 61 completed the 1-month study (MM group, n = 34; PMR group, n = 27), including pre- and post-resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and 8 training sessions. Regional homogeneity and degree centrality were calculated, and overlapping brain regions were selected as seed points for functional connectivity (FC) analysis. The correlation of FC with behavioral data and neurotransmitters was subsequently evaluated. Compared with the PMR group, the MM group had less severe depression, addiction, and cravings. FC analysis showed that MM increased FC in the executive control, frontal-striatal, and default mode networks. FC was significantly correlated with 5-Hydroxytryptamine 1 A receptor, serotonin transporter, vesicular acetylcholine transporter and dopamine receptors D1 and D2. This study demonstrated that MM was effective in the treatment of IGD-D. MM altered the default mode network, enhanced top-down control, and emotion regulation, and disrupted negative reinforcement mechanisms. These phenomena were supported by the correlation between FC and behavioral as well as biochemical measures, suggesting that MM is a promising therapy for IGD-D.

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Data availability

All data supporting this study are presented in the text and in the Supplementary material. Due to ethical considerations and consent limitations, these data cannot be publicly shared.

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Funding

The current research was supported by The STI2030-Major Projects (2021ZD0200500).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

    Xuefeng Xu, Huabin Wang, Shaoyu Cui & Guang-Heng Dong

  2. NuanCun Mindful-living Mindfulness Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

    Chang Liu

  3. Center of Mindfulness, School of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, China

    Xiaolan Song

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Contributions

Xuefeng Xu sorted and analyzed the data, wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and prepared relevant charts and supplementary materials. Xuefeng Xu, Huabin Wang and Shaoyu Cui collected and organized the data. Chang Liu and Xiaolan Song designed the MM and PMR intervention courses and their detailed procedures. Guang-Heng Dong designed the entire study and revised the manuscript and sought funding.

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Correspondence to Guang-Heng Dong.

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Xu, X., Wang, H., Cui, S. et al. The effect and neural changes underlying mindfulness meditation training in patients with comorbid internet gaming disorder and depression: A randomized clinical trial. Transl Psychiatry (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-03837-6

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  • Received: 29 June 2025

  • Revised: 12 December 2025

  • Accepted: 20 January 2026

  • Published: 18 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-03837-6

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