Mindfulness May Ward Off Depression As Well As Drugs

What’s better for warding off a relapse of depression: “maintenance antidepressant medication” or mindfulness-based therapy. And the answer is…neither.  Based on the results of a study conducted at the University of Oxford, both practices seem to do the job equally well. Science Daily reports on the research, for which 424 adults with recurrent major depression and taking maintenance antidepressant medication were randomly assigned to come off their medication slowly and receive MBCT (212 participants) or to stay on their medication (212 participants). Those in the MBCT group attended eight 2 ¼ hour group sessions, which included mindfulness practices, group discussion and other cognitive behavioral exercises as well as daily home practice. Those in the maintenance antidepressant group continued their medication for two years. The envelope please….Over 2 years, relapse rates in both groups were similar (44% in the MBCT group vs 47% in the maintenance antidepressant medication group).