Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Depression is the leading cause of major disability in industrialized countries and can often lead to substance abuse and anxiety disorders. Medicating a person can help to alleviate the symptoms, however, it does not give the patient the ability to avert future episodes of depression nor to lead a happy life.

Pioneers in the fields of modern science and psychology are exploring and attempting to understand what happens to the mind when people meditate and the benefits of meditation. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is seen as a promising, cost-effective means to help patients overcome depression and avert future episodes of depression.

MBCT, developed in 1991, combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for the treatment of depression and prevention of a recurrence. CBT distances patients from negative thoughts and emotions, while MBSR uses mindfulness meditation to address a wide range of clinical applications: pain, cancer, heart disease, depression and anxiety.

MBCT does not encourage patients to change the content of thoughts but rather their relationship to their thoughts and emotions. Patients focus on moment-to-moment awareness of thoughts and emotions as they arise and learn to view their problems in a non-judgemental way.

Success in the prevention of relapse of patients with three or more episodes of depression has been observed with MBCT. Patients learn to note the arising of a potential relapse trigger and to disassociate from it by recognizing it as a passing event. MBCT is cost-effective, since it can be taught to groups of up to 30 people at a time. MBCT can also reduce the need for medication.

The effectiveness and benefits of MBCT are being studied in other patient groups. A substance abuse program has used MBCT as part of a group of therapies for the prevention of relapse. MBCT is also being investigated as part of a rehabilitation program for patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).

MBCT, although based on the moment-to-moment awareness practice of Buddhist meditation, is not a Buddhist practice. Psychologists and other interested individuals may receive MBCT training to lead patients through the therapy. However, for the practice to be effective, they must also be mindfulness practitioners themselves.

There is a great need for effective treatment of depression. MBCT appears to hold promise as a treatment with better results than simply medicating. The mysteries of the mind, however, cannot be mapped nor confined to textbook logic. MBCT provides patients with a simple tool limited to the service of averting depressive states of consciousness and is taught by instructors with a knowledge of that one function.

To go beyond the single extraction of a simple tool from thousands of years of Buddhist meditation practice: the wisdom of meditation is emptiness and the heart of meditation is compassion. A meditation master, in the Buddhist tradition, can lead a student to be able to give up aversion and desire and cut off the root of all suffering. MBCT, although temporarily effective, does not offer any permanent relief from suffering. MBCT training does not offer the instructor the ability to help the patient beyond what is written in textbooks.

Mindfulness practice does have benefit for anyone who chooses to practice it. It must be understood that in MBCT there are limits. That is, the limit of averting depression or pain for this moment only. In full meditation practice the only limits are those that the mind sets.

In the words of Shakyamuni Buddha:

"Your mind contains all possibilities."