P02-336 - Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Major Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Alberto Chiesa, Alessandro Serretti
European Psychiatry 2010 DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(10)71035-x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review and meta-analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with major depression |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | MBCT in addition to usual care significantly reduced relapses in patients with three or more past episodes of major depression compared to usual care alone. MBCT plus gradual discontinuation of maintenance antidepressants was similar to continuing antidepressants alone. Preliminary evidence supports MBCT for patients with residual symptoms, but methodological limitations warrant further research. |
Abstract
ObjectiveMindfulness based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a standardized meditation program which has been proposed as a therapeutic option for the prevention of relapses in patients suffering from major depression (MD). The aim of the present review and meta-analysis is to provide an estimate of the efficacy of MBCT for MD patients.MethodsA literature search was undertaken using MEDLINE, ISI web of knowledge, the Cochrane database, Google scholar and references of retrieved articles. Controlled studies investigating the efficacy of MBCT for MD were entered in the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager Software (RevMan version 5.0).ResultsReviewed data showed that MBCT in adjunct to usual care was significantly better than usual care alone for reducing MD relpases in patients with 3 or more past episodes of MD. MBCT plus gradual discontinuation of maintenance antidepressants was similar to continuation of antidepressants alone with respect to relapse prevention. The augmentation of MBCT could be useful for patients with current residual symptoms of depression as well.ConclusionsCurrent studies showed preliminary evidence about the efficacy of MBCT for patients with 3 or more past episodes of depression and for currently depressed patients with residual symptoms. However, methodological shortcomings of reviewed studies including small sample size, frequent lack of replications and the absence of studies comparing MBCT to control groups designed to distinguish specific from non specific effects of meditation imply the necessity for further research.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Effectiveness of mindfulness interventions for depressive symptoms in young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders August 26, 2026
- Mindful yoga intervention as add-on to treatment as usual for young women with major depressive disorder: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology December 2022