Cited by 429Treatment of Major DepressionMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Antidepressant Monotherapy vs Sequential Pharmacotherapy and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or Placebo, for Relapse Prophylaxis in Recurrent Depression

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Segal, Zindel V., Bieling, Peter, Young, Trevor, MacQueen, Glenda, Cooke, Robert, Martin, Lawrence, Bloch, Richard, Levitan, Robert D.·2010·Archives of General Psychiatry

Abstract

CONTEXT: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a group-based psychosocial intervention designed to enhance self-management of prodromal symptoms associated with depressive relapse. OBJECTIVE: To compare rates of relapse in depressed patients in remission receiving MBCT against maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy, the current standard of care. DESIGN: Patients who met remission criteria after 8 months of algorithm-informed antidepressant treatment were randomized to receive maintenance antidepressant medication, MBCT, or placebo and were followed up for 18 months. SETTING: Outpatient clinics at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty patients aged 18 to 65 years meeting DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder with a minimum of 2 past episodes. Of these, 84 achieved remission (52.5%) and were assigned to 1 of the 3 study conditions. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in remission discontinued their antidepressants and attended 8 weekly group sessions of MBCT, continued taking their therapeutic dose of antidepressant medication, or discontinued active medication and were switched to placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Relapse was defined as a return, for at least 2 weeks, of symptoms sufficient to meet the criteria for major depression on module A of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. RESULTS: Intention-to-treat analyses showed a significant interaction between the quality of acute-phase remission and subsequent prevention of relapse in randomized patients (P = .03). Among unstable remitters (1 or more Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score >7 during remission), patients in both MBCT and maintenance treatment showed a 73% decrease in hazard compared with placebo (P = .03), whereas for stable remitters (all Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores ≤7 during remission) there were no group differences in survival. CONCLUSIONS: For depressed patients achieving stable or unstable clinical remission, MBCT offers protection against relapse/recurrence on a par with that of maintenance antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Our data also highlight the importance of maintaining at least 1 long-term active treatment in unstable remitters.

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Crossref · 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.168

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  • In Segal 2010, among stable remitters, there was no difference in relapse between discontinuation and continuation groups (50% vs 59%; P=0.49).

    “For stable remitters (all HAM-D scores ≥ 7 during remission), there were no differences in relapse of absence of withdrawal symptoms measured a er antidepressants were tapered (relapse rates: 50% discontinuation group, 59% antidepressant group; HR not reported; P = 0.49).”

    From Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long-term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults (2021) · cites this paper as Segal 2010

    The Relapse section reports 50% relapse with placebo after antidepressant taper versus 59% with maintenance antidepressants among stable remitters, with P=.49 for that comparison. However, the Study Phases section defines stable remission as HRSD scores ≤7, not ≥7 as the citing sentence states. The cited passages also do not establish the sentence’s suggestion about withdrawal symptoms. (LLM, conf=0.90)

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  • In Segal 2010, among unstable remitters, the discontinuation group had a higher risk of relapse than the continuation group (71% vs 27%; HR 4.16, 95% CI 1.12 to 14.3; P=0.03).

    “Among unstable remitters (one or more with HAM-D score ≥ 7 during remission), participants in the discontinuation group showed higher risk of relapse compared with those in the continuation group (relapse rates: discontinuation group 71%, 27% antidepressant; HR 4.16, 95% CI 1.12 to 14.3; P = 0.03).”

    From Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long-term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults (2021) · cites this paper as Segal 2010

    The Relapse section reports adjusted relapse rates of 71% for placebo (antidepressant discontinuation) and 27% for maintenance antidepressants among unstable remitters, with P=.03. Its hazard ratio is expressed in the opposite direction: 0.24 (95% CI 0.07–0.89) for maintenance antidepressants versus placebo, approximately 4.16 (1.12–14.3) when inverted. The Study Phases section defines unstable remission by occasional elevated HRSD scores of 8–14, not by a score of ≥7, as the citing sentence states. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • In the second study, 84 patients with recurrent depression who had remitted on antidepressants were randomly assigned to MBCT-TS, maintenance antidepressants, or pill placebo; over 18 months of follow-up, relapse or recurrence rates did not differ for MBCT-TS (28%, n=5/18) and maintenance antidepressants (27%, n=3/11), but both were lower than with placebo (71%, n=10/14).

    “In the second study, 39 84 patients with recurrent depression who had remitted on antidepressants were randomly assigned to MBCT-TS, maintenance antidepressants, or pill placebo.Relapse or recurrence rates noted over 18 months of follow-up did not diff er for MBCT-TS (28%, n=5/18) and maintenance antidepressants (27%, n=3/11), but both were lower than with placebo (71%, n=10/14).39”

    From Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared with maintenance antidepressant treatment in the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence (PREVENT): a randomised controlled trial (2015) · cites this paper as [39]

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  • Residual symptoms of depression have been shown to increase the chances of a relapse.

    “Psychotherapy undertaken during a relapse prevention phase tends to focus on addressing any residual symptoms of depression, which have been shown to increase the chances of a relapse, on affect regulation and on self management skills needed to promote recovery (Segal 2010).”

    From Interventions for preventing relapse and recurrence of a depressive disorder in children and adolescents (2012) · cites this paper as Segal 2010

    The Study Phases section (page unavailable) defines unstable remission by intermittent depressive symptoms, and the Relapse section reports substantial relapse among unstable remitters receiving placebo. The paper links residual symptoms with relapse prevention, but these treatment comparisons do not establish that residual symptoms themselves increase the chance of relapse. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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  • In Segal 2010, there was no difference between discontinuation with MBCT and continuation of antidepressants in unstable remitters (28% vs 27%; HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.25 to 4.49; P = 0.93).

    “and unstable remitters (28% for MBCT and discontinuation, 27% for continuation of antidepressant; HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.25 to 4.49; P = 0.93).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [17]17. First, M.; Spitzer, R.; Gibbon, M.; Williams, J. Structured clinical interview for Axis I DSM IV disorders--Patient edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press Inc; 1994.
  2. [28]28. Farb N, Anderson A, Mayberg H, Bean J, McKeon D, Segal Z. Mindfulness training is associated with altered neural response to sad mood provocation. Emotion. In press.

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Authors
Segal, Z. V., Bieling, P., Young, T., MacQueen, G., Cooke, R., Martin, L., Bloch, R., & Levitan, R. D.
Affiliations
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CA)
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Segal, Zindel V.
Venue
Archives of General Psychiatry
Published
2010-12-06
Volume
67
Issue
12
Pages
1256
ISSN
0003-990X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2153222062
Cited by
429
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 31 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 37 · 2012: 52
FWCI
28.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Archives of General Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH066992)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
recurrent depression, relapse prevention, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, antidepressant monotherapy, major depressive disorder, prodromal symptoms
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antidepressive Agents, Attention, Combined Modality Therapy, Major Depressive Disorder, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario, Outpatients, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychotherapy, Group, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Secondary Prevention, Young Adult

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