Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study
Behaviour Research and Therapy February 13, 2009 Thorsten Barnhofer, Catherine Crane, Emily Hargus et al. 398 citations
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which combines mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy techniques, reduced depressive symptoms from severe to mild in patients with chronic-recurrent depression who had at least three previous episodes and a history of suicidal ideation. In a pilot study, patients randomly assigned to MBCT plus treatment-as-usual showed a significant decrease in self-reported depression and in the number meeting full diagnostic criteria, while those receiving treatment-as-usual alone showed no significant change. The findings, though limited by a small sample size, provide preliminary evidence that MBCT can alleviate current symptoms in this difficult-to-treat population.