Staying well after depression: trial design and protocol
BMC Psychiatry April 30, 2010 S Duggan Danielle, J Whitaker Chris, Russell Daphne et al.
Relapse rates for recurrent depression range from 50-80%, and the risk is especially high for people who become suicidal when depressed. This trial compares Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which combines mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy, against Cognitive Psycho-Education (CPE), a cognitive treatment without meditation, and treatment as usual (TAU). Participants with recurrent depression are randomly assigned to MBCT plus TAU, CPE plus TAU, or TAU alone in a 2:2:1 ratio, with a target of 300 participants after attrition. Both active treatments are delivered in weekly two-hour group sessions for eight weeks. Effects on relapse and suicidal symptoms will be measured over 12 months, with assessments immediately after treatment and at three, six, nine, and twelve months.