Talk Therapy

In his article Effectiveness of Talk Therapy, Benedict Carey states that antidepressant drugs and talk therapies are modestly effective, and the combination is better than either approach alone. However, for those who do well or fully recover, psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavior therapy, seems to be most effective in cutting the risk for a relapse long-term. The researchers found that thirteen of the funded studies against talk therapy were completed but never published, usually because those who did the trials did not think a finding of no benefit stood much chance of being published. The team contacted each of the thirteen investigators originally paid to do the work and requested their data. Once that data was included with
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, or MBCT, is paying attention to one's experience in the present moment. It involves observing thoughts and emotions from moment to moment without judging or becoming caught up in them. During a practice session, when the mind wanders, the meditator ideally takes note of where it goes, and calmly returns to the moment at hand, perhaps focusing on breath, bodily sensations or a simple yoga move. It helps them to recognize what is happening, engage with it in a different way and respond to it with equanimity and compassion. As currently designed, MBCT is an eight-week, group-based program that incorporates mindfulness exercises including yoga, body awareness and daily homework, such as eating or doing household chores, with full attention to what one is doing, moment by moment. Among MBCT's strengths, unlike drugs and antidepressant medications, is its lack of side effects, and that it can be used as an adjunct therapy. Especially women at high risk of depression who may want to avoid taking drugs during pregnancy. The down side is that it is relatively new, and there still enough proof to how well it works. More research is needed to determine, for example, how often and for how long people need to practice MBCT to reap its benefits, and how the practice plays out in people's daily activities. In addition, the lack of access to training for clinicians makes its growth very