What disorders and issues can mindfulness-based cognitive therapy treat?

My full MBCT guide can be found here.

1. Depression

• • Primary target: Preventing relapses in people with recurrent major depressive disorder.

• • It’s also helpful for people currently experiencing mild to moderate depressive symptoms.

• • Strong evidence: MBCT cuts relapse risk by around 43–50% for people with three or more past episodes.

2. Anxiety disorders

• • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and health anxiety have all been treated with MBCT adaptations.

• • Mindfulness lowers worry and catastrophic thinking and improves emotional regulation.

Evans et al. (2008) noted that MBCT diminished anxiety symptoms substantially compared to the usual treatment.

3. Bipolar disorder
   
   

• • MBCT can assist those with bipolar disorder in managing depressive episodes and increasing mood stability between episodes.

• • It’s used as an extra, not a replacement for medication, but a tool for better emotional self-awareness and relapse prevention.

Chadwick et al. (2011) proved that MBCT eased depressive symptoms and improved functioning in bipolar patients.

4. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• • Mindfulness helps trauma survivors create a safer relationship with distressing memories and body sensations.

• • MBCT adaptations for PTSD highlight grounding and emotional regulation without overwhelming the system.

King et al. (2013) found that mindfulness interventions (including MBCT-based ones) considerably lowered PTSD symptoms.

5. Substance use disorders
   
   

• • MBCT assists in reducing craving, impulsive reactions, and relapse in people recovering from addictions.

• • It strengthens the ability to sit with urges rather than act on them.

Bowen et al. (2014) illustrated that mindfulness-based relapse prevention rooted in MBCT principles halved relapse rates for substance use over 12 months.

6. Chronic pain and illness

• • While MBCT doesn’t remove physical pain, it can change the way people respond to pain, reducing suffering.

• • It’s used for conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and cancer-related distress.

Grossman et al. (2007) noticed meaningful improvements in quality of life and emotional well-being through mindfulness approaches.

7. Eating disorders
   
   

• • MBCT adaptations are increasingly used for binge eating disorders and bulimia.

• • It helps people become more attuned to bodily cues (like hunger and fullness) and cuts down automatic emotional eating.

8. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• • Helps with obsessive thinking patterns.

9. Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

• • Although dialectical behavior therapy is usually the first-line treatment, MBCT can be useful to improve emotional regulation.

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