Mindfullness-based Cognitive Therapy ( MBCT)

How does MBCT work:

MBCT is based on buddhist medication and relaxation techniques
Help people direct their focus and concentrate so they can notice intrusive thoughts and begin to prevent the escaltion of negative thoughts
Help people to recognize their thoughts as " mental events" rather than something very centered on their self concept..
Help people modify negative thoughts
The goal of MBCT is to help people recognize the signs of depression and have a " decentred" perspective

Kuyken et al.(2008)'

Aim:

Procedure:

Participants had a history of three or more previous episodes of depression, had been treated with antidepressant ( ADM) over the last 6 month and were currently either in full or partial remission from the most recent episode
They were randomly allocated to a traditional ADM treatment or a 8-week MBCT class
The time from randomization to depressive relapse was measured- followed up at 3 month for 15 month total
Severity and duration of relapse also measured.

Result:

15-month follow-ups in MBCT were 47%, compared with 60% in the m-ADM
MBCT was more effective than m-ADM in reducing residual depressive symptoms and psychiatric comorbidity and in improving quality of life
No difference between the annual cost
75% of the participants in MCBT with discontinued ADM support completely stoped

Implications:MCBT is effective in treating depression

Evaluation

Strength
- Seem to have a more permanent effect on the treating depression as the relapse rate is a lot lower than antidepressants
- Does not have side effects
- Mood enhancin
- Help to reduce stress
Limitations
- No effect on people with less than 2 episodes of depression
- Takes a very long time to work
- Are not very effective in reducing symptoms of depression