Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Preventing Recurrence of Depression

Maintenance antidepressants are the most commonly used approach to prevent recurrences in major depression. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been shown to prevent recurrent depression compared with placebo and usual care and, in two small studies, perhaps to be at least as effective as antidepressant medication. This pragmatic clinical trial randomized 424 primary care patients with recurrent major depression in remission who were taking antidepressants either to 8 weeks of MBCT classes that included support to discontinue antidepressants or to continuation of antidepressants.

At 24 months, relapse rates were similar for MBCT (44%) and medication (47%). The rates remained similar in analyses restricted to participants receiving…