New research compares mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) with anti-depressants
News release from NETSCC, HTA
29 March 2010
New research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme is assessing whether a new psychological treatment could be an alternative to prescription drugs for people who suffer from depression.
Depression is a common and disabling mental health problem that is regularly treated with antidepressant drugs. Even though antidepressants help, and many people who suffer with depression get well, the rates of people becoming depressed again are high. Sufferers often express a wish for psychological help that can help them recover from depression in the long-term. Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a recently developed therapy for people who have experienced a lot of depression and works by helping people to learn skills that can prevent depression coming back.
Professor Willem Kuyken of the University of Exeter is leading the five-year study. He said: “Anti-depressants are widely used by people who suffer from depression and that’s because there is evidence that they work. But, while they’re very effective in keeping people well, when people come off them they are vulnerable to relapse. MBCT takes a different approach – it teaches people skills for life.”
In a smaller-scale study conducted by the same team in 2005-2007, MBCT proved as effective as anti-depressant medication in preventing a relapse and was more effective in enhancing peoples’ quality of life. It also suggested that MBCT may be as cost-effective as antidepressants. This new funding worth more than £1.8million will allow the team to take their research to the next level, to work out if MBCT could be a viable option for the large proportion of people suffering from depression who rely on mediation to stay well.
“The results of our research so far are very promising. This study will help us determine if it could be a viable alternative to prescription drugs for a large number of people.”
The researchers aim to recruit 420 people with a history of depression for the study. Anyone who is interested in taking part in the study should contact the PREVENT Trial team on tel: 01392 726101
This project is due to publish in 2015. To view full details about this project visit: http://www.hta.ac.uk/1924
Notes for editors
1. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme commissions research about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest NIHR programme and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with over 530 issues published to date. The journal’s 2009 Impact Factor (6.91) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk
2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk
Contact details
Naomi Williams, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: N.E.Williams@southampton.ac.uk
Kelly Waterman, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 597 376, Email: k.waterman@southampton.ac.uk
News feeds