Implementation and Evaluation of "Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy" in a Health Care Region in Flanders: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria: * Age: 18 years and above * place of residence in accordance with a well-defined region (pilot study) * given informed consent * diagnosis of recurrent depression (DSM-IV-TR) * at least 3 depressive episodes in the anamnesis (depression: either primary or secondary diagnosis) * last depressive episode at least 8 weeks ago (DSM-IV-TR) * absence of a present depressive episode * history of treatment by an antidepressant medication * HRSD-score \<14 at baseline assessment (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, HRSD-17) * absence of exclusion criteria Exclusion Criteria: * based on DSM-IV-TR: current diagnosis of any of the following psychiatric disorders: lifetime mood disorder, chronic depression, dysthymia, current substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, acute psychosis, cognitive disorder, organic mental disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, mental retardation, primary diagnosis of axis-II-disorder, at risk for suicide * Extended experience with zen- or vipassana meditation (or mindfulness) in the past or * more than 1 hour practice of zen- or vipassana meditation (or mindfulness) per week during the last 8 weeks * other meditation practices except for MBCT during the training * more than 1 psychiatric consultation per 3-4 weeks during the training and follow-up * intensive psychotherapy during the training and follow-up * schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the anamnesis * physical problems which make it difficult to participate in the programme