title: Effects of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a programme developed to prevent depression relapse, but has been applied for other disorders. Our objective was to systematically review and meta-analyse the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of MBCT for the treatment of mental disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches were completed in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, PsychINFO, and PsycEXTRA in March 2011 using a search strategy with the terms 'mindfulness-based cognitive therapy', 'mindfulness', and 'randomised controlled trials' without time restrictions. Selection criteria of having a randomised controlled trial design, including patients diagnosed with mental disorders, using MBCT according to the authors who developed MBCT and providing outcomes that included changes in mental health were used to assess 608 reports. Two reviewers applied the pre-determined selection criteria and extracted the data into structured tables. Meta-analyses and sensitivity analyses were completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven studies were included. Most of them evaluated depression and compared additive MBCT against usual treatment. After 1 year of follow-up MBCT reduced the rate of relapse in patients with three or more previous episodes of depression by 40% (5 studies, relative risk [95% confidence interval]: 0.61 [0.48, 0.79]). Other meta-analysed outcomes were depression and anxiety, both with significant results but unstable in sensitivity analyses. Methodological quality of the reports was moderate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on this review and meta-analyses, MBCT is an effective intervention for patients with three or more previous episodes of major depression.
authors.affiliation: PhD candidate, Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, UK.
authors.forename: Julieta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galante
authors.affiliation: Nursing PhD candidate, College of Nursing, University of Utah, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Iribarren
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Loyola University, New Orleans, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pearce
keywords: depression; mental disorders; meta-analysis; mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; randomised controlled trials; systematic review