Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Recurrent Depression

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Patients With Recurrent Depression: a Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and possible mediating factors of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for recurrent depression.

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a 8 session group intervention and is well described by several authors.

Previous studies showed Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to be effective to prevent relapse in patients with recurrent depression and 3 or more previous depressive episodes.

Study aims are:

1. to replicate previous findings in The Netherlands, by a research team which did not develop the intervention
2. to investigate if MBCT is applicable for patients with recurrent depression and current depressive symptoms
3. to examine possible mediators of treatment effect and predictors of relapse in the year following the treatment

In this study, patients are randomly assigned to a MBCT intervention group or a waiting list control group. Patients allocated to the waiting list control condition will receive the MBCT course three months later. All patients who participated in a MBCT training will be assessed during the year following the completion of the MBCT course. We aim to include about 220 patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 3 or more previous depressive episodes
• if treated with medication: constant dose of at least 6 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Bipolar Disorder
• Psychotic disorder
• Neurological or somatic illness affecting depression or outcome measures
• Current alcohol or drugs dependency
• Acute need of psychiatric treatment