Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study

TLDR

The pilot study examined whether Mindfulness‑Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reduces symptoms in patients with chronic‑recurrent depression. Participants with at least three prior depressive episodes and a history of suicidal ideation were randomized to MBCT plus usual care or usual care alone, and depressive symptoms and diagnostic status were measured before and after treatment. MBCT produced a marked reduction in depressive symptoms and remission rates compared with usual care, supporting its preliminary efficacy in chronic‑recurrent depression despite the small sample size.

Abstract

This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), a treatment combining mindfulness meditation and interventions taken from cognitive therapy, in patients suffering from chronic-recurrent depression. Currently symptomatic patients with at least three previous episodes of depression and a history of suicidal ideation were randomly allocated to receive either MBCT delivered in addition to treatment-as-usual (TAU; N=14 completers) or TAU alone (N=14 completers). Depressive symptoms and diagnostic status were assessed before and after treatment phase. Self-reported symptoms of depression decreased from severe to mild levels in the MBCT group while there was no significant change in the TAU group. Similarly, numbers of patients meeting full criteria for depression decreased significantly more in the MBCT group than in the TAU group. Results are consistent with previous uncontrolled studies. Although based on a small sample and, therefore, limited in their generalizability, they provide further preliminary evidence that MBCT can be used to successfully reduce current symptoms in patients suffering from a protracted course of the disorder.