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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression

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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Abstract

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was originally designed to prevent relapse in people who had recovered from depression, and many studies have proven its efficacy in this domain. People with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) may be maintaining their depression via a similar cognitive style to those who have recovered from depression and are vulnerable to relapse. Therefore, investigators have started to use MBCT to treat people with TRD. In this chapter, we outline the theoretical rationale for using MBCT to treat active depression, in particular TRD. We use a case study to illustrate modifications to the standard MBCT protocol that address challenges in treating people with TRD, such as decreased attentional control and debilitating negative thinking styles. Finally, we review the growing evidence base for the application of MBCT to treat TRD, and discuss practical considerations such as patient selection, group size, and format.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Serina Deen M.D., M.P.H.

  2. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Walter Sipe

  3. The UCSF Depression Center, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Stuart J. Eisendrath M.D.

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  1. Serina Deen M.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Walter Sipe
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  3. Stuart J. Eisendrath M.D.
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Correspondence to Stuart J. Eisendrath M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The UCSF Dep.Cent.,Langley Porter Psy.In, University of California, San Franc, San Francisco, California, USA

    Stuart J. Eisendrath

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Deen, S., Sipe, W., Eisendrath, S.J. (2016). Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Treatment-Resistant Depression. In: Eisendrath, S. (eds) Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29866-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-29866-5_12

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