A recent study from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and their collaborators suggests that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is safe for people with recurring depression. Key findings are reported in an article by Heather Harris.

The researchers assessed findings from a 2016 meta-analysis of nine MBCT studies. It is important to note that limited studies since the 2016 meta-analysis have pointed to patient harm after receiving MBCT, but the studies did not include a control group.

When analyzing the 2016 individual participant data (IDT), along with de-identified IDT “from nine randomized controlled trials evaluating MBCT for the prevention of depression relapse in 1,258 adult patients.” They were looking to determine if MBCT could be associated with depression symptom relapse. A control group was also used with some participants using antidepressants. The researchers, however, found “no evidence that MBCT increased odds of depressive symptom worsening relative to control conditions.”

Additionally, MBCT showed to lower an individual’s risk of symptom worsening compared to other common treatments during some secondary analyses. The researchers noted that “the included trials focused on individuals in partial or full remission from recurrent depression, so the results may not fully apply to those with acute depression or other clinical populations.”