Treatment of chronic major depressive disorder by Mindfulness therapy: two cases report

บทคัดย่อ

Objective This report was to show the effectiveness of mindfulness therapy of two cases of patients with chronic major depressive disorder.

Materials and methods Mindfulness practice in this report was based on the teaching of Pra-Ajahn Pramote Pamotecho. The 3 steps of modified mindfulness techniques were applied to the patients which are mind and body observation, emotion distraction and bare attention of emotion.

Results The first patient was diagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD) for 5 years and his Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores decreased from 36 prior to practice to 12 and 6, after 3 months and 3 years of practicing respectively. He was able to stop taking medications for 3 years and had not relapsed since then. The second patient was diagnosed as MDD for more than 20 years. Her
MADRS score was 48 prior to mindfulness practice and decreased to 12 and 7, after 3 months and 8 months of practicing respectively. She was able to decrease medications and had a better quality of life.

Conclusion Modified techniques of mindfulness practice in this report helped these 2 cases of patients with MDD gain improvement and had a better quality of life. One of them was able to stop taking medications for 3 years.