Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: Primary Care Patients’ Experiences of Outcomes in Everyday Life and Relapse Prevention

Abstract

The concept of mindfulness has attracted a growing body of research within behavioural medicine over the last decade. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) has been developed to prevent relapse among people who suffer recurrent depression. Studies show impressive results, with a decrease in the risk of relapse of up to 50%. However, primary care patients' own experiences and MBCT's effectiveness as a relapse program and aid to their ability to deal with everyday life remain relatively unexplored. The aim of the study, therefore, was to examine how primary care patients with recurrent depression perceive the usefulness of MBCT in preventing relapse. Nineteen patients who had participated in a MBCT program for recurrent depression within a primary care setting were interviewed 12 months after treatment. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse, and report patterns in the interviews. Analysis suggests two overarching themes, "Strategies for remission" and "Personal development". This study brings new information about what participants in MBCT classes describe as the most useful interventions for relapse prevention. The formal and informal meditation exercises focused on the body and the breath were described as the most important strategies for remission and the mindfulness practice gave the participants an enhanced self-knowledge that helped them to better deal with everyday stress and interpersonal functioning. The findings also indicate that traditional cognitive behavioural interventions, such as behaviour activation and establishing a maintenance plan, might not be as essential to relapse prevention as formerly thought.

An ongoing process of reconnection: A qualitative exploration of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for adults in remission from depression

“…Overall, our findings fit with other qualitative investigations of MBCT (Cairns & Murray, 2015;Chesin et al, 2018;Lilja et al, 2015;Malpass et al, 2012;Murphy & Lahtinen, 2015;Tickell, Ball, et al, 2020;Tickell, Byng, et al, 2020;Williams et al, 2018;Wyatt, Harper, & Weatherhead, 2014). Our findings fit most similarly with the 'relating mindfully' model proposed by Bihari and Mullan (2014).…”

Lay Conceptions of Volitional Personality Change: From Strategies Pursued to Stories Told

“…Clinical and applied researchers often draw a distinction between cognitive and behavioral orientations when implementing interventions (see Young et al, ). Cognitive approaches to therapy, which include mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy, emotion‐focused therapy, and compassion‐focused therapy, have been shown to reduce depression and anxiety as well as improve recovery from psychosis (Lilja, Broberg, Norlander, & Broberg, ; Mason & Hargreaves, ; Meeten, Whiting, & Williams, ).…”

“…For instance, Lilja et al () observed that individuals who suffered from depression not only saw a decrease in symptoms after a 2‐week mindfulness meditation intervention, but also reported continued use of mindfulness during a 12‐month follow‐up. More active, behavioral approaches to personal change (e.g., facing one's social phobia or lack of self‐esteem by going to a party or regularly asserting oneself), in contrast, have been found to reduce fear arousal, recurrence in major depression, and symptomatic exacerbation of schizophrenia (Bandura, Adams, & Beyer, ; Dobson et al, ; Glynn et al, ; Pagoto et al, ).…”

Patients’ Experiences after Cognitive Behavior Group Therapy: From Anxiety to Feelings of Perceived Security

“…A report on Evidence-Based Practice in psychology (American Psychological Association, 2006) emphasized the importance of an integration of science and practice where one of the points was that "qualitative research can be used to describe the subjective, lived experiences of people, including participants in psychotherapy" (p. 274), which may lead to the identification of parameters that can improve treatment outcomes. It is in line with the qualitative premise that it is the patient himself/herself who is the best judge of his/her process and experience (Lilja, Broberg, Norlander, & Broberg, 2015). Malterud (2001) proposes not to consider quantitative and qualitative strategies as incompatible, but should be seen as complementary to each other because the underlying principles have much in common.…”