Recommendations for conducting mindfulness based cognitive therapy trials

Citation

Siddaway A & Wood AM (2013) Recommendations for conducting mindfulness based cognitive therapy trials. Psychiatry Research, 207 (3), pp. 229-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.12.030

Abstract
First paragraph: We read with interest the article "Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis" (Chiesa and Serretti, 2011), which we note is currently ranked as the most downloaded paper in Psychiatry Research. The authors used strong and appropriate methodology and concluded that augmentation of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to standard care (treatment as usual: TAU) could result in significantly lower relapse/recurrence rates in people experiencing depression when compared with standard care alone. They further concluded that relapse rates at 1 year for MBCT plus gradual discontinuation of maintenance anti-depressants did not differ significantly from the antidepressant continuation control. We wholeheartedly welcome comprehensive reviews such as these in relation to MBCT because (1) the theory and practice of MBCT is still in its infancy and relatively little is known about its efficacy, and (2) empirical examination of MBCT produces very important data of which clinicians, researchers, commissioners of services, and potential MBCT clients should be aware.

Notes
Output Type: Letter to the Editor

Journal
Psychiatry Research: Volume 207, Issue 3