A study, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, claimed that Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy was as effective as maintenance anti-depressants in preventing a relapse into depression and more effective in enhancing peoples' quality of life. The study also showed MBCT to be as cost-effective as prescription drugs in helping people with a history of depression stay well in the longer-term.
Funded by the British Medical Research Council, the study was led by Professor Willem Kuyken at the Mood Disorders Centre, University of Exeter, in collaboration with the Centre for Economics of Mental Health at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Peninsula Medical School, Devon Primary Care Trust and the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit.
The study involved 123 people who had suffered repeat depressions and were referred by their doctors. The participants were split into two groups. Half continued their on-going anti-depressant drug treatment and the rest participated in an MBCT course and were given the option of coming off anti-depressants.
Over the 15 months after the trial, 47% of the group following the MBCT course experienced a relapse compared with 60% of those continuing their normal treatment, including anti-depressant drugs. In addition, the group on the MBCT program reported a higher quality of life, in terms of their overall enjoyment of daily living and physical well-being.
Professor Kuyken said: "Anti-depressants are widely used by people who suffer from depression and that's because they tend to work. But, while they're very effective in helping reduce the symptoms of depression, when people come off them they are particularly vulnerable to relapse. MBCT takes a different approach - it teaches people skills for life. What we have shown is that when people work at it, these skills for life help keep people well."
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