A woman meditates calmly and mindfully to combat her depression

Study on mindfulness-based therapies for depression

Willem Kuyken et al.

July 2015

Burn-out prevention / prophylaxis

In this randomized controlled trial, researchers compared the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with support in reducing or discontinuing antidepressants (MBCT-TS) with that of maintenance antidepressants in preventing depressive relapse or recurrence.

The study included 424 participants with a history of recurrent depression who were followed for 24 months and found no significant difference in time to relapse or recurrence of depression between the two groups formed.

Both treatments showed sustained positive results in terms of relapse or recurrence, residual depressive symptoms and quality of life. The study concluded that there is no evidence that MBCT-TS is superior to antidepressant maintenance treatment in preventing depressive relapse in people at risk of relapse.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Depression
Institution: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Title: Study on mindfulness-based therapies for depression
Brief description: Study with 424 participants examines MBCT vs. antidepressants in the prevention of depression relapses. Both methods show effectiveness.
Original title: Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared with maintenance antidepressant treatment in the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence (PREVENT): a randomised controlled trial
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25907157/