A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression
British Journal of Medical Psychology June 1, 2001 Oliver Mason, Isabel Hargreaves 242 citations
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) helps reduce the risk of relapse in recurrent depression, but little is known about how it works. Interviews with seven participants, analyzed using grounded theory, revealed that preconceptions and expectations of therapy shape later experiences. Key therapeutic changes included developing mindfulness skills, an attitude of acceptance, and living in the moment. Generalizing these skills to everyday life, such as through breathing spaces, was important. Continued practice supported therapeutic gains. The findings support cognitive accounts of mood disorder and the role of MBCT in reducing relapse.