Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, Taking It Further (MBCT-D-TiF): An Assessment of an Intervention Development Study.

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reduces depression relapse, yet graduates have expressed a need for structured guidance post-program to maintain mindfulness practice and sustain benefits. To address this, we created MBCT for Depression-Taking it Further (MBCT-D-TiF). To refine and pilot test feasibility and acceptability of MBCT-D-TiF. We collected qualitative focus group data to inform refinements and quantitative data to pilot test feasibility and acceptability of MBCT-D-TiF. In round one, participants received MBCT-D-TiF (n = 14), consisting of 4 weekly and then monthly sessions delivered via group videoconferencing. In round two (n = 20), participants were randomized 1:1 to MBCT-D-TiF or waitlist control. Surveys were completed at baseline, 1 and 4 months by all participants. We explored participants' experiences with MBCT-D-TiF in two focus groups (n = 7 in each) conducted via videoconferencing. We used descriptive statistics and mixed linear models to analyze quantitative data and thematic content analysis to analyze qualitative data. MBCT-D-TiF participants (n = 25) attended all weekly sessions (100%) and at least 75% of the monthly sessions (76%); found the weekly sessions very or extremely helpful (77.1%), and the monthly sessions very or extremely helpful (66.7%). The following themes emerged: (1) the importance of the group for participants' social connection, support, and practice community that enhanced their meditative experience, helped improve their mental health, and facilitated accountability; (2) MBCT-D-TiF provided mental health benefits, including tools to lessen the negative impact of depression and anxiety, increase connections to the world, and enhance positive experiences; (3) participants' home practices were reinvigorated during the weekly MBCT-D-TiF sessions, but fell short of their goals thereafter. MBCT-D-TiF was well attended and rated very or extremely helpful by most participants, supporting its feasibility and acceptability. Qualitative data showed that additional steps to help participants sustain home practice are needed, offering a target for refinement and further testing.