The Staying Well after Depression Study is no longer seeking participants.

Many thanks to everyone who expressed an interest.  

What is the purpose of the study?

Each year in the United Kingdom a large number of people get depressed. We are very keen to find out more about the reasons for this and how we can prevent it happening again.  We are particularly interested in the ability of two treatments to help people stay well in the future (by reducing future episodes of depression), when they have been depressed several times in the past. The treatments, a Cognitive Psycho-Education programme (CPE) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), are described below. What we learn from this study will be used to improve the care of patients in the future.

We are interested in whether CPE and MBCT can help people stay well and prevent future depression. To see whether the treatments are helpful we need to compare people in the two treatment groups with a group of people who are not receiving treatment at the moment. We will also compare the two treatment groups to see if one treatment is more effective than the other.

Everyone joining the study will be chosen at random by a computer program to receive either CPE or MBCT, or to wait for treatment. We will use a ratio of 2:2:1: this means that for every five people who enter the study two will join the CPE group, two will join the MBCT group and one will be asked to wait for treatment. All three groups will be followed up in the same way (see below). The wait for treatment group will be offered CPE or MBCT at the end of the study (after about 15 months). Everyone in the study will continue to receive other treatments and seek extra help (e.g. from their GPs) in the usual way.

What is Cognitive Psycho-Education (CPE)?

CPE is a new treatment. It is a group-based adaptation of cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy is a psychological treatment focusing on the negative thinking that is central to depression and despair. Previous research has shown that cognitive therapy reduces the risk of depression recurring. We are now exploring whether people who have had suicidal thoughts as part of their depression in the past can benefit from CPE. People randomised to CPE will take part in eight weekly classes. These classes will be given by an experienced teacher to small groups of about 12 people. There they will learn ways of handling difficult thoughts and feelings differently. Homework activities and exercises will encourage them to try out new ways of responding to their thoughts and feelings. CPE also includes basic education about depression and suicidal thoughts, with exercises that show the links between thinking and feeling, and that help to establish how best to look after yourself when your moods threaten to overwhelm you. In addition to the 8 weekly classes, you will be invited to two follow-up reunion sessions, 6-8 weeks and approximately 6 months after the end of treatment. These will allow you to refresh the skills you have learned and reflect on how things have been going since the last class.

What is Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)?

MBCT is a new treatment. It combines mindfulness meditation with cognitive therapy techniques. Previous research has shown that MBCT can reduce the risk of recurrence of depression in people who have suffered several episodes of depression in the past. People randomised to MBCT will take part in eight weekly classes given by an experienced teacher to small groups of about 12 people. There they will learn the practice of mindfulness meditation. MBCT includes breathing exercises and homework activities to help you become more aware of the present moment, including getting in touch with moment-to-moment changes in the mind and the body.  It also includes basic education about depression and suicidal thoughts, and several exercises from cognitive therapy that show the links between thinking and feeling and how best to look after yourself when your moods threaten to overwhelm you. In addition to the 8 weekly classes, you will be invited to two follow-up reunion sessions, 6-8 weeks and approximately 6 months after the end of treatment. These will allow you to refresh the skills you have learned and reflect on how things have been going since the last class.

Contact for Further Information

International Trial Registration: ISRCTN97185214   National Research Ethics Service Ref: 08/H0606/56