ABSTRACT
Depression is a major public health problem that, like other chronic conditions, typically runs a relapsing and recurring course, damaging health and causing considerable human suffering. A key feature of major depression is the likelihood that sufferers will experience repeated episodes. It follows, therefore, that the heightened vulnerability to relapse for people with a history of depression is the aspect of the problem that needs particular attention, if the personal and global impact of it are to be lessened. It was important to the MBCT developers to understand what is helping to protect people who have engaged in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) during a depression episode from future relapse. The relapse-prevention approach they were developing could usefully seek to develop these same skills. The aim of the three MBCT developers was to develop a relapse-prevention approach which could be delivered.
