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Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, James Williams, Valerie Ridgeway, Judith M. Soulsby, Mark A. Lau

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000 DOI: 10.1037//0022-006x.68.4.615 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed
Sample size 145
Population Recovered recurrently depressed patients
Intervention Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Duration 60-week study period
Topics Anxiety Meditation Depression
Keywords Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy Relapse prevention Dysphoria Depression economics Randomized controlled trial Psychotherapist Clinical psychology Cognition
Citations 2,613
Key findings For patients with three or more previous episodes of depression, MBCT significantly reduced risk of relapse/recurrence, but for patients with only two previous episodes, MBCT did not reduce relapse/recurrence.

Abstract

This study evaluated mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), a group intervention designed to train recovered recurrently depressed patients to disengage from dysphoria-activated depressogenic thinking that may mediate relapse/recurrence. Recovered recurrently depressed patients (n = 145) were randomized to continue with treatment as usual or, in addition, to receive MBCT. Relapse/recurrence to major depression was assessed over a 60-week study period. For patients with 3 or more previous episodes of depression (77% of the sample), MBCT significantly reduced risk of relapse/recurrence. For patients with only 2 previous episodes, MBCT did not reduce relapse/recurrence. MBCT offers a promising cost-efficient psychological approach to preventing relapse/recurrence in recovered recurrently depressed patients.

In the evidence

This study is part of the evidence base for 2 syntheses in the library. Here is how each one recorded it.

  • State of the evidence: Depression Mixed

    MBCT significantly reduced relapse risk over 60 weeks in patients with three or more prior episodes but did not reduce relapse in those with only two episodes.

    Synthesized

  • State of the evidence: Meditation Mixed

    MBCT significantly reduced relapse/recurrence risk in patients with three or more previous depressive episodes but did not reduce relapse in those with only two previous episodes.

    Synthesized

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
A Randomized Trial of an N-methyl-D-aspartate Antagonist in Treatment-Resistant Major Depression Subjects with DSM-IV major depression (treatment resistant) 2006 Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study n = 18
Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Cancer patients with life-threatening diagnoses and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety 2016 Randomized controlled trial n = 51
Rapid and sustained symptom reduction following psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer: a randomized controlled trial Patients with cancer-related anxiety and depression 2016 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial n = 29
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73
Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression Selected group of patients with depression 2021 Randomized controlled trial

Citations in the library

Cited by 652

and 647 more in the library

Cites 3

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Anxiety Meditation Depression