Efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in relation to prior history of depression: randomised controlled trial

Background There appears to be consensus that patients with only one or two prior depressive episodes do not benefit from treatment with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Aims To investigate whether the effect of MBCT on residual depressive symptoms is contingent on the number of previous depressive episodes (trial number NTR1084). Method Currently non-depressed adults with residual depressive symptoms and a history of depression (<= 2 prior episodes: n=71; >= 3 episodes: n=59) were randomised to MBCT (n=64) or a waiting list (control: n=66) in an open-label, randomised controlled trial. The main outcome measured was the reduction in residual depressive symptoms (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, HRSD-17). Results Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was superior to the control condition across subgroups (beta=-0.56, P<0.001). The interaction between treatment and subgroup was not significant (beta=0.45, P=0.16). Conclusions Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy reduces residual depressive symptoms irrespective of the number of previous episodes of major depression.