Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy For Depression

Depression is darkness, reluctance, despair and sadness. There are many adjectives that have been used to define it. Either way, the effects are devastating. Clinical or severe depression results in persistent depressed mood or loss of interest. Sleep problems, decreased appetite and decreased concentration are other symptoms of depression. Today we will talk about mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression.

The statistics that show the number of people suffering from depression are worrying. It is one of the most common mental disorders. 17% of the population have reported that they have had depression in the last six months. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that by 2020, depression will be the second most prevalent disorder in the world. Thus, treatment represents a major challenge in mental health.

Treatment of depression

In the late ’80s, there were several ways to fight depression. Antidepressants became the first treatment method for clinical depression. However, psychological treatments also gained popularity. In this sense, behavioral therapy emphasized the need to increase each individual’s participation in enjoyable activities.

On the other hand, cognitive therapy is aimed at changing the way our thoughts contribute to the onset of depressive symptoms. Finally, interpersonal therapy confirmed that we needed to learn how to resolve interpersonal disputes.

With all these treatments available, one would think that the problem of depression would have been solved by now. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Relapse

Unfortunately, although depression therapies were effective, research showed another problem: Relapse in people who had already experienced depressive episodes. In this sense, some believe that depression is a chronic lifelong condition. The risk of recurring episodes is approx. 80%. Patients experience an average of four depressive episodes lasting more than 20 weeks.

Recurrent relapses after a successful depression treatment are common and debilitating outcomes. This is the real problem we face today. To deal with this problem, psychiatric professionals insisted on cognitive therapy. Most patients who tried it suffered less severe relapses.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression

It has been suggested that attention should be part of the psychological treatment of depression. But what does that mean?

Mindfulness means being aware of the present without judging. It is remarkable what can happen when our thoughts are perceived as thoughts and not as “reality”.

The simple act of recognizing our thoughts as thoughts can keep us from distorting our reality. This provides greater clarity, as well as a greater sense of control over our lives.

The key is to unleash repeated thoughts

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a great way to overcome mental states characterized by independent patterns of negative thinking and lingering, and can thus help treat depression.

If we do not pay attention to these patterns, we will probably experience a downward spiral in our mood, as well as a relapse. Therefore, the basic tool for shifting mental processes is to be aware of the present moment.

By choosing what we focus on and how we focus on it, we can help change our mentality. When can this new skill be put to use? In principle, this exercise can be used in all situations.

Mindfulness is a basic ability

Mindfulness is a basic skill for using cognitive therapy for depression. It involves being aware of the present in a specific way, with a purpose and without judging.

Being aware of thought patterns, moods and bodily emotions is an important first step. Full awareness provides the means to help us change our mental patterns.

The structure of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression lasts for 8 sessions. The goal is for patients to learn to pay attention to every moment with a purpose and without prejudice. Therefore, learning to pay attention is the goal of the first treatment sessions.

Patients become aware that they do not really pay attention to what is happening in their daily lives. They are taught to realize how fast thoughts move from one subject to the next. After realizing that their mind is tumbling, they learn to take it back and focus it on a single element. This is first taught in relation to body parts and then based on breathing.

Finally, patients learn to be aware of how their wandering minds can allow negative thoughts and emotions to take over. Addressing mood swings at the moment or dealing with them later is the second phase of attention-based cognitive therapy.

As we have seen, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can be very effective in treating depressive states. Thanks to this, patients learn to identify their negative thoughts, accept them, and eventually let them go.