Study Finds Non-Drug Meditation Treatment Beats Depression

Clinical depression is far more than feeling blue. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 20 million people in the U.S. have persistant depression that can interfere with everyday life, impact health and even lead to suicide. Now, for the first time, a study has shown that treatment based on meditation is an effective alternative to prescription drugs, even for people suffering from serious, long-term depression.

The research, just published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, found that the group-based psychological treatment called Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was as good or better as treatment with anti-depressants like Prozac in preventing a relapse of serious depression -- and the non-drug therapy was more effective in enhancing quality of life. What's more, the study concluded MBCT is cost-effective in helping people with a history of depression stay well for the long term. (More)

Source: Natural News