A parallel-group, randomized controlled trial into the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) compared to treatment-as-usual in recurrent depression: Trial design and protocol.
Rhoda Schuling, Marloes J. Huijbers, Hiske Van Ravesteijn, Rogier Donders, Willem Kuyken, Anne E. M. Speckens
Contemporary Clinical Trials September 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2016.07.014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial (study protocol) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Patients with recurrent depressive episodes who completed an MBCT course in the past |
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) treatment as usual (TAU) |
| Duration | Assessments at baseline, post-treatment, and six months follow-up |
| Measures | Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), DSM-IV depressive disorder, rumination, self-compassion, mindfulness skills, positive affect, quality of life, experiential avoidance, fear of self-compassion |
| Topics | Depression Meditation |
| Keywords | Randomized controlled trial Recurrent depression |
| Registration | NCT02059200 |
| Key findings | The protocol proposes that adding Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living to treatment as usual, compared with treatment as usual alone, may reduce residual depressive symptoms in patients with recurrent depression who previously completed MBCT. The authors note that no prior research has tested compassion training following MBCT in this population, and the trial's primary outcome is BDI-II depressive symptom severity at post-treatment. |
Abstract
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been shown to reduce the risk of relapse in patients with recurrent depression, but relapse rates remain high. To further improve outcome for this group of patients, follow-up interventions may be needed. Compassion training focuses explicitly on developing self-compassion, one of the putative working mechanisms of MBCT. No previous research has been done on the effectiveness of compassion training following MBCT in patients with recurrent depression. To investigate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Compassionate Living (MBCL) in reducing (residual) depressive symptoms in patients with recurrent depression who previously participated in MBCT. A randomized controlled trial comparing MBCL in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) with TAU only, in patients suffering from recurrent depressive episodes who completed an MBCT course in the past. Assessments will take place at baseline, post-treatment and at six months follow-up. After the control period, patients randomized to the TAU condition will be offered MBCL as well. Primary outcome measure is severity of depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at post-treatment. Secondary outcome measures are presence or absence of DSM-IV depressive disorder, rumination, self-compassion, mindfulness skills, positive affect, quality of life, experiential avoidance and fear of self-compassion. Our study is the first randomized controlled trial to examine the effectiveness of compassion training following MBCT in a recurrently depressed population. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02059200, registered 30 January 2014.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Change of self-schemas following mindfulness-based compassionate living for recurrent depression: A qualitative study. Acta Psychologica June 15, 2026
- Health Benefits of (Mindful) Self-Compassion Meditation and the Potential Complementarity to Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Review of Randomized-Controlled Trials OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine August 20, 2018
- Working on self-compassion online: A proof of concept and feasibility study. Internet Interventions November 2016
Cites 16
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- 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: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 2004
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic depression: A preliminary study Behaviour Research and Therapy February 13, 2009
- Competence in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Courses: Concepts, Development and Assessment Mindfulness September 21, 2011
and 11 more in the library