Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study
Thorsten Barnhofer1, Catherine Crane, Emily Hargus
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK. thorsten.barnhofer@psych.ox.ac.uk
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|March 3, 2009
Summary
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) significantly reduced depressive symptoms in patients with chronic-recurrent depression. This pilot study suggests MBCT is effective when added to treatment-as-usual for long-term depression management.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mindfulness Studies
Background:
- Chronic-recurrent depression poses significant challenges for long-term management.
- Existing treatments may not fully address persistent depressive symptoms and relapse prevention.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) integrates mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy principles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of MBCT as an adjunctive treatment for patients with chronic-recurrent depression.
- To assess the impact of MBCT on current depressive symptoms and diagnostic status.
- To provide preliminary evidence for MBCT's utility in managing protracted depressive disorders.
Main Methods:
- A pilot study involving patients with chronic-recurrent depression and a history of suicidal ideation.
- Random allocation to either MBCT plus treatment-as-usual (TAU) or TAU alone.
- Assessment of depressive symptoms and diagnostic status pre- and post-treatment.
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in self-reported depressive symptoms from severe to mild levels in the MBCT group.
- No significant change in depressive symptoms observed in the treatment-as-usual (TAU) only group.
- A significantly greater decrease in the number of patients meeting full criteria for depression in the MBCT group compared to the TAU group.
Conclusions:
- MBCT, when added to TAU, shows preliminary effectiveness in reducing current symptoms of depression in patients with a chronic-recurrent course.
- Findings align with previous uncontrolled studies, supporting MBCT's potential for managing protracted depression.
- Despite a small sample size, the results offer encouraging evidence for MBCT's role in treating this patient population.
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