Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared with maintenance antidepressant treatment in the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence (PREVENT): a randomised controlled trial
The Lancet July 4, 2015 W. Kuyken, Rachel Hayes, B. Barrett et al.
For people with a history of recurrent depression, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy combined with support to taper antidepressants is not superior to continuing maintenance antidepressants for preventing relapse over two years. In a randomized trial of 424 adults with three or more prior episodes, the time to relapse did not differ between the two groups. Both treatments were associated with enduring positive outcomes in terms of relapse, residual symptoms, and quality of life. Serious adverse events were rare and similar across groups. The findings suggest that MBCT with tapering support offers a comparable alternative to long-term antidepressant use.