The NHS Choices website has reported on a Mindfulness story from the Daily Mail in their weekly round up.  The article gives a concise description of what Mindfulness is plus an explanation of the science involved.  There is some critism of the way a recent research article was reported.  This appears to be fair since there were reports of Mindfulness being ‘As good as medication’ and there were comparisons made with Buddist Meditation.

The study referred to does not directly test the efficacy of Mindfulness compared to medication.  It looked at relapse rates and compared the use of Mindfulness along with medication.  The results showed that people treated with Mindfulness were less likely to relapse compared to people that had only been treated with tablets.

Although Mindfulness uses Meditative techniques, it does not have any particular links to religion.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/12December/Pages/Meditationanddepression.asp

The BBC published an article at the beginning of the week reporting the benefits of Mindfulness groups in treating Depression.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7754632.stm

The study they report on claims that Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, taught as part of a group programme, is as effective as prescription medication.

We first trialed Mindfulness at Soutra a couple of years ago.  We’ve had very successful results and have run the groups a number of times since.  It is certainly a group that will be on the Psychotherapy timetable in the new year.