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Participants' Experiences of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy: “It Changed Me in Just about Every Way Possible”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2009

Mark Allen ,
Andrew Bromley ,
Willem Kuyken  and
Stefanie J. Sonnenberg
Mark Allen
Affiliation:
University of Exeter, UK
Andrew Bromley
Affiliation:
University of Exeter, UK
Willem Kuyken*
Affiliation:
University of Exeter, UK
Stefanie J. Sonnenberg
Affiliation:
University of Exeter, UK
*
Reprint requests to Willem Kuyken, Mood Disorders Centre, School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK. E-mail: w.kuyken@exeter.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a promising approach to help people who suffer recurrent depression prevent depressive relapse. However, little is known about how MBCT works. Moreover, participants' subjective experiences of MBCT as a relapse prevention treatment remain largely unstudied. Aim: This study examines participants' representations of their experience of MBCT and its value as a relapse-prevention program for recurrent depression. Method: Twenty people who had participated in MBCT classes for recurrent depression within a primary care setting were interviewed 12 months after treatment. The focus of the interview was on participants' reflections on what they found helpful, meaningful and difficult about MBCT as a relapse prevention program. Thematic analysis was used to identify the key patterns and elements in participants' accounts. Results and conclusions: Four overarching themes were extracted: control, acceptance, relationships and struggle. The theoretical, clinical and research implications are discussed.

Keywords

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive TherapyMBCTqualitativethematic analysisdepressionrelapse prevention
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 37 , Issue 4 , July 2009 , pp. 413 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

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