Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in patients with depression: current perspectives
Meagan B. MacKenzie, Kayleigh A. Abbott, Nancy L. Kocovski
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment June 1, 2018 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s160761 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Citations | 69 |
| Key findings | The review reports strong support for MBCT's efficacy in preventing relapse in depressive disorders, despite methodological shortcomings in the literature. It identifies mindfulness, repetitive negative thinking, self-compassion and affect, and cognitive reactivity as mechanisms of change, and suggests self-help variations are promising for dissemination, while teacher competence may not predict treatment outcome. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was developed to prevent relapse in individuals with depressive disorders. This widely used intervention has garnered considerable attention and a comprehensive review of current trends is warranted. As such, this review provides an overview of efficacy, mechanisms of action, and concludes with a discussion of dissemination. Results provided strong support for the efficacy of MBCT despite some methodological shortcomings in the reviewed literature. With respect to mechanisms of action, specific elements, such as mindfulness, repetitive negative thinking, self-compassion and affect, and cognitive reactivity have emerged as important mechanisms of change. Finally, despite a lack of widespread MBCT availability outside urban areas, research has shown that self-help variations are promising. Combined with findings that teacher competence may not be a significant predictor of treatment outcome, there are important implications for dissemination. Taken together, this review shows that while MBCT is an effective treatment for depression, continued research in the areas of efficacy, mechanisms of action, and dissemination are recommended.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synaptic Dysfunction in Depression: Potential Therapeutic Targets | 2012 | Review | |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse | 2003 | Review | |
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II—Clinical Applications and Guidelines | 2005 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 19
- Online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for treatment-resistant depression: a parallel-arm randomized controlled feasibility trial. Frontiers in Psychology 2024
- The Effects of Ayahuasca on Psychological Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review. Cureus March 1, 2024
- Validación de la escala Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire en estudiantes de medicina y médicos en Chile Revista médica de Chile April 1, 2023
- The cloud of unknowing: Cognitive dedifferentiation in whole-body perceptual deprivation. Progress in Brain Research 2023
- Synchronous Online Group MBCT vs. Guided Asynchronous Online MBCT for Mild to Moderate Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial Mindfulness March 1, 2026
and 14 more in the library
Cites 32
- Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2000
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression August 21, 2006
- Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse JAMA Psychiatry April 28, 2016
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Home practice in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of participants' mindfulness practice and its association with outcomes Behaviour Research and Therapy May 10, 2017
and 27 more in the library