Buddhist Mindfulness Practice in Conjunction with Drug Treatments for Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorder Patients: Two cases Report

Abstract

This two cases report documents the findings from the study of the Buddhist mindfulness practice as applied in conjunction with drug treatments on two psychiatric patients. One was diagnosed as Major Depressive Disorder, and the other as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The therapy was taken place at Nakornrajasima Rajanakarindra Psychiatric Hospital during August - September 2005. The patient with depression was treated with antidepressant at an adequate dose for a period of time, yet the symptoms still existed. The patient with anxiety, in spite of small dose of drug treatment, suffered from side effect and thereby refused to take the medication. The approach was to coach both patients in practicing mindfulness, based on Satipatthana-Sutta, according to the Bhuddhist Pali Canon, 1 hour per session. After 6 consecutive weeks of practice, both patients had shown clinical improvement in their symptoms at 3 months follow-up.