Using CBT to Discontinue Antidepressants and Prevent Relapse

Antidepressants often are continued in patients with remitted depression to prevent relapse. Studies have shown that use of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or preventive cognitive therapy during the course of antidepressant taper can prevent relapse and produce outcomes equivalent to continuing antidepressants. Are there specific patient or illness characteristics that might tell us which option is better for individual patients?

In this meta-analysis of individual participant data from four studies in 714 patients whose depression had remitted with antidepressant treatment, researchers confirmed that mindfulness-based or preventive cognitive therapy during antidepressant taper yields outcomes similar to continuing antidepressants (mean …