A new study has found that group-based psychological treatment can offer an effective alternative treatment for people suffering from long-term depression.
A new study has found that group-based psychological treatment can offer an effective alternative treatment for people suffering from long-term depression.
The group-based psychological treatment, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) developed by a team of psychologists from Toronto, Oxford and Cambridge universities has found to be equally effective as anti-depressants treatment.
Depression - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders affecting approximately 340 million people in the world. No one is immune from depression - it occurs in people of all social classes, all countries and all cultural settings.
The researchers conducted a randomised control trial over 123 people from urban and rural locations who had suffered repeat depressions and were referred to the trial by their GPs. The participants were split randomly into two groups.
Half continued their on-going anti-depressant drug treatment and the rest participated in an MBCT course and were given the option of coming off anti-depressants.
Depression Screening Test
Online Depression Screening Test tells if you have mild or chronic depression based on your depression symptoms. Learn how to deal with depression by using this self-assessment calculator.
Online Depression Screening Test tells if you have mild or chronic depression based on your depression symptoms. Learn how to deal with depression by using this self-assessment calculator.
In addition, the group on the MBCT programme reported a higher quality of life, in terms of their overall enjoyment of daily living and physical well being.
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Anxiety Disorder - Types - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
Anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about actual circumstances, events or conflicts. Anyone can develop this disorder. Genes may play a role.
Anxiety disorder involves excessive worry about actual circumstances, events or conflicts. Anyone can develop this disorder. Genes may play a role.
They found that MBCT provides a cost-effective alternative to anti-depressant drugs.
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Psychotherapy More Effective Than Medication For Psychiatric Problems
Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy seems more effective in treating complex psychiatric problems than short-term treatments focused more on medications, a meta-analysis has found.
Long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy seems more effective in treating complex psychiatric problems than short-term treatments focused more on medications, a meta-analysis has found.
"Anti-depressants are widely used by people who suffer from depression and that's because they tend to work. But, while they're very effective in helping reduce the symptoms of depression, when people come off them they are particularly vulnerable to relapse," said Professor Kuyken.
"MBCT takes a different approach - it teaches people skills for life. What we have shown is that when people work at it, these skills for life help keep people well."
"People who suffer depression have long asked for psychological approaches to help them recover in the long-term and MBCT is a very promising approach.
"I think we have the basis for offering patients and GPs an alternative to long-term anti-depressant medication. We are planning to conduct a larger trial to put these results to the test and to examine how MBCT works," he added.
The study was published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
Source-ANI
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