Mindfulness therapy trial reported symptom improvements without a demonstrated relapse benefit
Among institutionalized adults with recurrent depression in Nigeria, a trial reported improvements in symptom and rumination scores, while relapse did not differ significantly between groups.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The therapy group had statistically significant reductions in depressive symptom scores and rumination scores. The trial did not detect a difference in depression relapse between groups. These findings address different outcomes: improving current symptom scores does not establish prevention of future episodes, and the nonsignificant relapse result does not show that the groups had identical relapse risks.
This abstract-based account lacks relapse rates and clear between-group effects for symptom or rumination scores. The institutionalized setting matters when considering how broadly the findings apply.
What researchers found
Depression relapse: no statistically significant group difference
Therapy versus control, with assessments before treatment, afterward and at 2-month follow-up. This p value does not describe the size of the relapse difference.
What participants received
Group training included meditation exercises, educational material and discussion. Researchers assessed participants before treatment, afterward and again at follow-up, tracking both current symptoms and whether depression returned.
Separating the comparisons
The reported symptom and rumination tests describe changes in the therapy group. Without clear control-group contrasts for these outcomes, the abstract gives an incomplete picture of the treatment-specific effect.
The original publication
Evaluating the Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Alleviating Depressive Symptoms, Reducing Rumination, and Preventing Relapse Among the Institutionalized Patients in Nigeria: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Argungu ZM, Alhaiti A, Jibreel EA
Int J Soc Psychiatry · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41461577
- Record checked
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