Comparison of the Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in the Reduction of Symptoms Severity in Major Depressive Disorder

Aim and The objective of the present study was the comparison of the efficacy of pharmacotherapy with mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in the reduction of the severity of symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD).
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest and follow-up (1 month) was conducted from November to February of 2013. The statistical population consisted of all patients diagnosed with MDD by a psychiatrist based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and had medical records at the Sedigh Psychiatric Clinic in Khoramabad, Iran. The study participants consisted of 40 patients selected through convenience sampling method. The subjects were randomly assigned to the pharmacotherapy (n = 20) or MBCT groups (n = 20) and completed the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) (pretest). Then, the MBCT group received 8 sessions of MBCT and the pharmacotherapy group received a 20-mg fluoxetine capsule daily for 2 months. At the end of the intervention, posttest was performed on both groups. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA in SPSS software.
Findings: The results of the present study indicated a significant difference between the pharmacotherapy and MBCT groups (P The results showed that both treatment methods were effective in improving depression in patients. However, pharmacotherapy was more effective in reducing the symptoms of depression and MBCT had more persistent therapeutic effects. Therefore, based on the results of such studies, it is recommended that researchers design clinical trials with the integration of empiric therapy methods in future studies.