The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry
February 1, 2012
Walter E B Sipe, Stuart J. Eisendrath
283 citations
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness-based stress reduction in an 8-session group program. Originally developed to prevent relapse in people with recurrent depression, it has been applied to other psychiatric conditions. MBCT encourages patients to relate differently to thoughts and feelings rather than changing them. Preliminary neuroimaging studies suggest mindfulness improves emotional regulation by enhancing cortical control of limbic circuits and attention. Findings from several randomized controlled trials indicate MBCT is useful for relapse prevention in recurrent depression, with efficacy similar to maintenance antidepressants. Preliminary studies also show promise for active depression, including treatment-resistant cases, and pilot studies have evaluated MBCT in bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
January 1, 2016
Stuart J. Eisendrath, Erin P Gillung, Kevin L. Delucchi et al.
193 citations
For adults with treatment-resistant depression, adding mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to usual pharmacotherapy produced a significantly greater reduction in depression severity (36.6% vs. 25.3% on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) and a higher rate of treatment responders (30.3% vs. 15.3%) after eight weeks, compared with an active control program of physical fitness, music therapy, and nutritional education. Remission rates did not differ significantly between groups (22.4% vs. 13.9%). Higher state anxiety, perceived stress, and personality disorder were associated with worse outcomes. MBCT appears to be a viable adjunctive treatment for treatment-resistant depression.
Global advances in integrative medicine and health
January 1, 2023
Chelsea J Siwik, Shelley R Adler, Patricia J Moran et al.
7 citations
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces depression relapse, but about one-third of graduates relapse within a year. Focus groups with MBCT graduates and teachers revealed that the course is highly valued and sometimes life-changing. However, graduates struggle to maintain mindfulness practices and sustain benefits after the course ends, despite using community groups, apps, or retaking the course. One participant described finishing MBCT as feeling like "falling off a cliff." Both graduates and teachers strongly desired additional support, such as a maintenance program, to help sustain long-term benefits and reduce relapse risk.
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
June 12, 2026
Thorsten Barnhofer, Maria Niemi, Johannes Michalak et al.
1 citation
For adults with difficult-to-treat depression—those who have not responded to prior treatments, have treatment-resistant depression, or have a chronic course—mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is likely superior to usual care, reducing depressive symptoms by a standardized mean difference of -0.40 at post-treatment and -0.41 at medium-term follow-up. There was a 92% and 85% probability, respectively, that these benefits exceeded a minimal important difference. However, MBCT did not show clear superiority over other active psychosocial interventions, and no robust moderators of outcome were identified across baseline severity, chronicity, or comorbidity.
Global advances in integrative medicine and health
January 1, 2025
Chelsea J Siwik, Jessica M. Harrison, Willem Kuyken et al.
A maintenance program called MBCT-D-TiF, designed for graduates of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) who want structured guidance to sustain their mindfulness practice, was feasible and acceptable in a pilot test. In round one, 14 participants received the program; in round two, 20 were randomized to the program or a waitlist. Attendance was high: all weekly sessions and at least 75% of monthly sessions. Most participants rated weekly sessions (77.1%) and monthly sessions (66.7%) as very or extremely helpful. Qualitative themes included the group's role in social connection, support, and accountability; mental health benefits such as reduced impact of depression and anxiety; and a need for additional support to maintain home practice after weekly sessions ended.