Is Mindfulness Cognitive Therapy As Good As Medicine For Treating Depression?

Estimates show that more than 350 million people suffer from depression worldwide. Yet there is not simply a one size fits all treatment for the health problem. According to the World Health Organization, some may require medication, psychotherapy and/or both to stay healthy.

A new study published in The Lancet now reveals that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may also offer an alternative approach in effectively treating issues. In some cases, researchers believe that it may even be as effecitve as using antidepressants in helping chronic depression patients from relapsing, altogether.

MBCT was originally developed as mindfulness techniques to help individuals focus more of their attention of the present moment when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy. It works to help people know that negative feelings and thoughts do reoccur but it's important to try and disengage them from those negative thought processes, understanding them and accepting them.

For the new study, researchers randomly divided volunteers into two groups, with half of the volunteers on their medication while the other half stopped taking drugs in favor of MBCT.

Two years later, the 424 volunteers were assessed with a diagnostic tool for measuring mental state known as "structured clinical interview."

They discovered similar outcomes in both groups, with 42 percent of those in MBCT relapse when compared to 47 percent in the antidepressant group showing little difference in outcomes.

"We found no evidence that MBCT-TS is superior to maintenance antidepressant treatment for the prevention of depressive relapse in individuals at risk for depressive relapse or recurrence," said Willem Kuyken of the University of Oxford. "Both treatments were associated with enduring positive outcomes in terms of relapse or recurrence, residual depressive symptoms, and quality of life."

Though mindfulness training can be more expensive, as it may require more time with a therapist, the study found that it did not cost a significant amount more, particularly when used in group sessions. For those that are looking to avoid the side-effects of certain antidepressants, it can be particularly beneficial.