Oxford researchers test meditation as a form of therapy for depression

28 February 2007

Oxford University researchers are examining whether ancient meditation practices combined with modern therapy can help prevent the recurrence of suicidal depression.

A team in the Department of Psychiatry is recruiting people in the Oxford area who have been suicidal in the past and are still feeling depressed to learn mindfulness meditation in combination with more commonly used therapeutic techniques.

Professor Mark Williams, Dr Thorsten Barnhofer, Dr Catherine Crane, and team are undertaking a trial involving classes in ‘mindfulness-based cognitive therapy’, which combines daily meditation with cognitive therapy. The idea is to help people cope with changes in mood so as to prevent periods of stress or sadness spiralling into full-blown depression.

Fifty per cent of people who have recovered from one episode of depression relapse within two years, and for those who have been suicidal in the past, this depressed mood is likely to be accompanied by the return of suicidal thinking.

A previous small study by the team has shown that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has protective effects on brain measures related to risk for relapse. In those who had learnt meditation, activity in the left side of part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex was relatively higher (as measured by EEG) than in those who had been waiting to receive treatment. Relative left prefrontal activation in EEG has been found to be associated with stronger tendencies towards positive emotional responding.

The first study involved people who had previously been suicidally depressed but were, at the time of the trials, fine. The new phase will involve people who have previously been suicidally depressed and are currently feeling depressed (though not severely suicidal).

Participants will attend an eight-week course, and learn how to practice mindfulness meditation through classes of 8-12 people and through listening to CDs or tapes at home. The classes also include education about depression and how best participants can look after themselves when they feel overwhelmed by their feelings. The classes are led by clinical psychologists with special training in mindfulness-based approaches.

‘The classes can help participants to see more clearly the patterns of the mind, and to learn how to halt the escalation of negative or suicidal thinking that might otherwise lead to a downward spiral,’ says Professor Williams. ‘People become more able to allow distressing moods, thoughts and sensations to come and go, without having to battle with them. They find that they can stay in touch with the present moment, without having to ruminate about the past or worry about the future.’

The Oxford team is particularly interested in how to prevent the return of suicidal thoughts. ‘Suicidal feelings are more common than many people think,’ says Professor Williams. ‘Sometimes it is just a fleeting idea, but sometimes it is a whole plan for ending life. Once these suicidal ideas are established, it is very difficult to let go of them, and they can come back with full force as depression spirals downwards.’

The research will measure the effectiveness of meditation practices on people’s mood and wellbeing and the effects on psychological functioning and brain functioning, by comparing people who take part in the classes immediately with those who are asked to wait a short while before starting classes.

The team is inviting people who have been suicidal in the past and who are still suffering from low mood or depression to find out more about the research. Volunteers come in for a first interview with a member of the research team to discuss the study and find out if the classes are likely to be suitable for them. If so, they will be asked to come in for two further sessions, to complete some psychological tasks and to have an EEG assessment.

‘The classes are not suitable for everyone,’ says Dr Barnhofer, ‘so it is important to find out more about what they involve before deciding whether to take part. In particular, whilst the classes are suitable for people who are feeling depressed and who have experienced suicidal thoughts in the past, they are not suitable for people who are acutely suicidal. People who are very troubled by suicidal thoughts are likely to need one-to-one support. The classes also involve commitment: in order to benefit, it is necessary to practise what is learned in the classes on a daily basis, which can take quite a bit of time and effort.’

Based on their preliminary findings, the team is optimistic. ‘We are on the brink of discovering really important things about how to prevent depression and suicidal feelings,’ says Professor Williams. ‘We are moving away from simply treating people’s problems to helping people to find a life worth living.’

Those interested in finding out more about the study, with no obligation to participate, should contact the research team on (01865) 226468. The team can also be contacted by email at stress.reduction@psych.ox.ac.uk. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

For more information for media, contact the Press Office, Oxford University, 01865 280532.

Notes to Editors

*Clinical depression affects one in four people at some point during their lives. Fifty per cent of people who have recovered from one episode of depression experience another episode within the following two years. Risk of relapse increases with the number of previous episodes: probability of relapse in those who have suffered from three or more previous episodes has been found to be 80 per cent.

*Suicide and attempted suicide (now usually termed ‘deliberate self-harm’) are major problems in most countries in the world. In the UK alone there are approximately 5,000 suicides per year, considerably more than deaths following road traffic accidents, and more than 170,000 people attending hospital having deliberately harmed themselves.

*EEG (electroencephalography) is a non-invasive method of brain imaging which records the electrical activity of the brain whilst a person is seated in a chair, wearing a cap containing electrodes which pick up electrical activity through the scalp.

* Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy incorporates training in a number of different meditation techniques, for example meditations which involve paying attention to the breath, the body, external stimuli and mental events. These meditation techniques have their roots in Buddhism and other ancient spiritual traditions but are taught in an entirely secular context. The classes in Oxford are run by experienced clinical psychologists who have also undergone special training in mindfulness-based approaches and have a personal meditation practice. The CDs used in the classes are designed specifically for the treatment. Further information about how this treatment approach has been used to help previously depressed individuals who are not suffering from any symptoms at the moment (and information about how to obtain the CDs that are used in existing classes) is available through www.mbct.co.uk.