Evidence Summary
What is an Evidence Summary?
Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on
Got It, Hide thisIn people with recurrent depression, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces relapse
Kuyken W, Warren FC, Taylor RS, et al. Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis From Randomized Trials. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73:565-74.
Review question
In people who have recovered from recurrent depression, does mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) prevent relapse?
Background
Depression is a common mood disorder that affects how you feel, think, and behave. Symptoms include feeling sad, losing interest in things you like to do, having trouble thinking or concentrating, and feeling anxious or restless. It is more than just being sad and may get worse if not treated.
Some people will have only one episode of depression, while others will have more than one episode (recurrent depression). In people who have fully or mostly recovered from an episode of depression, some treatments, such as MBCT, may prevent a new episode (recurrence) or worsening symptoms (relapse).
MBCT is a type of psychological therapy that focuses on meditative practices and helps you manage thinking that may be inaccurate or overly negative.
How the review was done
The review included 9 studies (randomized controlled trials) that were published in English up to November 2014. The trials included 1,258 adults who were, on average, 47 years of age. 75% were women.
People had a doctor’s diagnosis of recurrent depression. They had mostly recovered from their latest episode of depression (full or partial remission) at the start of the trials.
Trials compared MBCT with a control treatment that didn’t include MBCT. In 5 trials the control treatment was usual care or psychological education. In 4 trials, the control treatment was antidepressant drugs.
Trials didn’t report the duration of MBCT.
What the researchers found
People who had MBCT were less likely to have a relapse of depression over 60 weeks than those who had usual care or a different treatment, including antidepressant drugs.
People with more severe depression symptoms before starting MBCT may benefit most.
Conclusion
In people with recurrent depression, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces relapse at 60 weeks more than usual care or another treatment.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) vs treatment without MBCT for preventing relapse in people with recurrent depression
| Comparisons | Number of trials and people | Rate of relapse with MBCT | Rate of relapse with non-MBCT treatment | Effect of MBCT at 60 weeks |
| MBCT vs any non-MBCT treatment | 9 trials (1,258 people) | 38% | 49% | About 12 fewer people out of 100 had a relapse of depression (from as few as 7 to as many as 17) |
| MBCT vs antidepressant drugs | 4 trials (637 people) | Not reported | Not reported | Fewer people had a relapse of depression (relative risk reduction 23%, from as little as 2% to as much as 40%) |
Related Topics
Glossary
Studies where people are assigned to one of the treatments purely by chance.
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Related Web Resources
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Depression
Informed Health OnlineDepression is a common mood disorder that can make it hard to cope with everyday life. Causes and risk factors for depression include genes, difficult experiences and life circumstances, chronic anxiety disorders, biochemical changes, medical problems, and lack of light. Psychological therapies (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy) and medication, alone or combination, are treatment options. -
Medicines for Treating Depression: A Review of the Research for Adults
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