Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Major Depressive Disorder: A Study Protocol of a Randomized Control Trial and a Case-Control Study With Electroencephalogram.

In this report, a study protocol for a randomized control trial is presented in an attempt to explore the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for major depressive disorder (MMD), and a case-control study is conducted to find the difference in electroencephalograms (EEGs) between MMD and normal controls. Seventy Chinese patients with MMD will be chosen for random division in the MBCT group or medication group, with half of the participants receiving common medication treatment [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)] and half receiving MBCT as a supplement to the common medication treatment. All participants, namely, 70 MMD cases and 35 matched normal controls, will be tested by a range of scales and EEG at baseline (week 0), mid-intervention (weeks 2, 4, and 6), post-intervention (week 8), and 6-months follow-up (weeks 12, 20, and 32). The findings of this study will provide a positive reference for the treatment of depression and future research on MBCT treatment mechanism. NCT03558256. Registered: June 13, 2018-retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03558256.