You’ve probably heard that meditation can improve your mental health. Did you also know that some studies show that people who use mindfulness-based cognitive therapy might even be able to reduce or eliminate ant-depressant medication?
In 2008, researchers in England published some MBCT research in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. They 123 participants into 2 groups: 62 continued with antidepressants and 61 received MBCT and support to help taper or discontinue their antidepressant use. Researchers discovered two things.
First, those taking the MBCT lower relapse and recurrence rates than those taking maintenance antidepressants. Second, MBCT was more effective in reducing residual depressive symptoms and in improving quality of life, physically and psychologically. Finally, antidepressant usage in the MBCT group dropped significantly, and 75% of the groups we able to discontinue their antidepressant.
While mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a specific therapy conducted by psychotherapists, you might want to consider meditation as part of the regimen you use to manage your depression.