Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Nov 9:15:275.
doi: 10.1186/s12888-015-0647-y.

A randomized controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) versus treatment-as-usual (TAU) for chronic, treatment-resistant depression: study protocol

Mira B Cladder-Micus  1   2   3 , Janna N Vrijsen  4   5 , Eni S Becker  6 , Rogier Donders  7 , Jan Spijker  8   9 , Anne E M Speckens  10
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized controlled trial of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) versus treatment-as-usual (TAU) for chronic, treatment-resistant depression: study protocol

Mira B Cladder-Micus et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Major depression is a common psychiatric disorder, frequently taking a chronic course. Despite provision of evidence-based treatments, including antidepressant medication and psychological treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy, a substantial amount of patients do not recover. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been found to be effective in reducing relapse in recurrent depression, as well as lowering symptom levels in acute depression. The effectiveness of MBCT for chronic, treatment-resistant depression has only be studied in a few pilot trials. A large randomized controlled trial is necessary to examine the effectiveness of MBCT in reducing depressive symptoms in chronic, treatment-resistant depression.

Methods/design: A randomized-controlled trial is conducted to compare MBCT with treatment-as-usual (TAU). Patients with chronic, treatment-resistant depression who have received antidepressant medication and cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy are included. Assessments take place at baseline and post intervention/TAU-period. The primary outcome are depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes are: remission rates, quality of life, rumination, mindfulness skills and self-compassion. Patients in the TAU condition are offered to participate in the MBCT after the post TAU-period assessment. From all completers of the MBCT (MBCT condition and patients participating after the TAU-period), follow-up assessments are taken at three and six months after the completion of the MBCT.

Discussion: This trial will result in valuable information about the effectiveness of MBCT in chronic, treatment-resistant depressed patients who previously received antidepressant medication and psychological treatment.

Trial registration: trialregister.nl NTR4843, registered 14th October 2014.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the recruitment and measurement points
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. De Graaf R, Ten Have M, Van Dorsselaer S. De psychische gezondheid van de Nederlandse bevolking. Utrecht: Nemesis-2: Opzet en eerste resultaten, Trimbos-Instituut; 2010.
    1. Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, et al. The epidemiology of major depressive disorder: results from the national comorbidity survey replication (ncs-r) JAMA. 2003;289(23):3095–105. doi: 10.1001/jama.289.23.3095. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Spijker J, De Graaf R, Bijl RV, Beekman AT, Ormel J, Nolen WA. Duration of major depressive episodes in the general population: results from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS) Br J Psychiatry. 2002;181(3):208–13. doi: 10.1192/bjp.181.3.208. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Spijker J, de Graaf R, ten Have M, Nolen WA, Speckens A. Predictors of suicidality in depressive spectrum disorders in the general population: results of the netherlands mental health survey and incidence study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2010;45(5):513–21. doi: 10.1007/s00127-009-0093-6. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Blanco C, Okuda M, Markowitz JC, Liu S-M, Grant BF, Hasin DS. The epidemiology of chronic major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder: results from the national epidemiologic survey on alcohol and related conditions. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;71(12):1645. doi: 10.4088/JCP.09m05663gry. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

Substances

Associated data

LinkOut - more resources