Participants' Experiences of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: “It Changed Me in Just about Every Way Possible”

People with recurrent depression who took part in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) reported that the program helped them gain control over their thoughts and feelings, accept difficult experiences, improve relationships, and also noted the struggle involved in the practice. These four themes—control, acceptance, relationships, and struggle—emerged from interviews with 20 participants one year after treatment. The findings suggest that MBCT works through multiple psychological processes, not just one, and that participants find both benefits and challenges in the therapy.

Study at a glance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a promising approach to help people who suffer recurrent depression prevent depressive relapse. However, little is known about how MBCT works. Moreover, participants' subjective experiences of MBCT as a relapse prevention treatment remain largely unstudied. AIM: This study examines participants' representations of their experience of MBCT and its value as a relapse-prevention program for recurrent depression. METHOD: Twenty people who had participated in MBCT classes for recurrent depression within a primary care setting were interviewed 12 months after treatment. The focus of the interview was on participants' reflections on what they found helpful, meaningful and difficult about MBCT as a relapse prevention program. Thematic analysis was used to identify the key patterns and elements in participants' accounts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Four overarching themes were extracted: control, acceptance, relationships and struggle. The theoretical, clinical and research implications are discussed.