Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse

"As this book is aimed at professionals I was very weary of buying it. There is always the fear that such books will pay too much heed to genetics and so become very depressing. Fortunately, the authors tend to believe that environment, upbringing, and the attitudes we hold are the main triggers of depression and this can be overcome using cognitive behavour therapy (CBT).

As an example of their optimism compare the two views here, one from mainstream psychiatry the other from the authors of the above book. Biopsychiatry tends to believe that everytime a depression strikes, the brain becomes more damaged and therfore more vulnerable to depression ( if this is true then a good dose of fish oil - best taken as pure EPA - will put it right, but a lot of psychiatrists won't tell you that). The authours of this book have an alternative view: when depression strikes we learn how to think depressively, and this learned behaviour, plus the memories of our previous depression, can mean we think negatively more readily when we come under stress again in the future. The authors are very enthusiastic that mindlefness cognitive therapy techniques can break these habitual detrimental thought patterns.

Mindfullnes CBT techniqes are also be used to pick up negative thoughts before they trigger a depression. It seems that although many people get well from depression using CBT, there may be a relapse when negative thoughts get through unnoticed.

I have always been interested in meditation and so this book greatly appealed to me. I have also found it to be a very optimistic book and so it has become part of my armoury to help me overcome my own chronic depression."
~ Written on 2006-02-02

"A truly excellent book. Aimed at the therapist/clinician but explains the background sufficiently to be used as a self-help book by a motivated and/or educated sufferer. Merges Eastern meditative practices with traditional cognitive therapy to produce a sensible, accessible, life-changing approach to preventing depressive relapse. Others will follow in these authors' footsteps. A book that everybody involved with mental health or who has suffered depression should read."
~ Written on 2005-05-20