The effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on recurrence of depressive episodes, mental health and quality of life: A randomized controlled study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) could reduce relapse/recurrence of depression and improve mood states and quality of life in recovered depressed patients.
Results Summary
MBCT plus treatment as usual (TAU) significantly reduced relapse/recurrence rates, increased time to first relapse, and improved depressive mood and quality of life compared to TAU alone.
Population
Recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
56 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | decrease | relapse/recurrence in depression | recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes | - | significantly reduced | #1 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | time until first relapse | recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes | - | increased | #2 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | decrease | short and longer-term depressive mood | recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes | - | significant reduction | #3 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | mood states | recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes | - | better | #4 |
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) plus treatment as usual (TAU) | increase | quality of the life | recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes | - | better | #5 |
Depression is characterized by a large risk of relapse/recurrence. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a recent non-drug psychotherapeutic intervention to prevent future depressive relapse/recurrence in remitted/recovered depressed patients. In this randomized controlled trial, the authors investigated the effects of MBCT on the relapse in depression and the time to first relapse since study participation, as well as on several mood states and the quality of life of the patients. 106 recovered depressed patients with a history of at least 3 depressive episodes continued either with their treatment as usual (TAU) or received MBCT in addition to TAU. The efficacy of MBCT was assessed over a study period of 56 weeks. At the end of the study period relapse/recurrence was significantly reduced and the time until first relapse increased in the MBCT plus TAU condition in comparison with TAU alone. The MBCT plus TAU group also showed a significant reduction in both short and longer-term depressive mood and better mood states and quality of the life. For patients with a history of at least three depressive episodes who are not acutely depressed, MBCT, added to TAU, may play an important role in the domain of relapse prevention in depression.