MINDFULNESS BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY IN PREVENTING RELAPSE IN PATIENTS LIVING WITH DEPRESSION: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Theory in relapse prevention in patients with major depressive episode remission. Method: A review was conducted including nine published articles found in the SciELO, PubMed and LILACS databases. The results of the selected articles were divided into topics involving participants, instruments used, efficacy in depression, suicidal ideation, rumination and benefits of MBCT. Results and discussion: The articles reviewed showed effective results on their goals from the use of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy with relapse prevention and improvement of residual symptoms in patients with depression. In the most modest results, with the use of MBCT, it was at least as effective as antidepressants compared to other treatments. Final considerations: The Cognitive Theory Based Mindfulness is presented as an effective alternative in preventing relapses in patients with relapsing major depression and reduction of residual depressive symptoms. It also presented several benefits for the individual’s life involving improved quality of life, mood and decreased suicide risk without the side effects of the antidepressant drugs. It is noteworthy, however, the limitation in the absence of Brazilian articles and the need to conduct a larger study involving more and insightful statistical analysis as the meta-analysis to corroborate the data and results.