Research carried out at Bangor University's Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice found that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) plays a major role not only in preventing the recurrence of depression, but also enhancing wellbeing more broadly.
MBCT integrates Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction with aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It was developed at Bangor University through translational research on the mechanisms of depressive relapse/recurrence.
Bangor University's research in this field has directly impacted on the transfer of the MBCT evidence base into practice settings regionally, nationally and internationally, benefitting patients, healthcare professionals and policy makers.
The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended their approach as an effective depression prevention programme. A body of subsequent trials suggested that it significantly and consistently reduces depressive relapse rates compared with alternative care approaches. Since 2008, the Centre has delivered MBCT courses to over 1500 members of the public and trained over 1300 professionals to deliver MBCT within the NHS and other contexts, and has also supported the establishment of a network of skilled MBCT professionals throughout the UK.