Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18–65 with history of Recurrent Depressive Disorder or Depression and Anxiety.

• Current symptoms of depression lasting > 2 weeks (see table 2 for ICD-10 criteria).

• At least 2 episodes should have lasted a minimum of 2 weeks and should have been separated by several months without significant mood disturbance (i.e. its recurrent).

• Have BDI score of more than 14 (i.e. mild depressive disorder or worse – case definition).

• With or without primary symptoms of anxiety.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with organic brain disease.

• Currently know to be abusing drugs or alcohol.

• History of psychosis or mania.

• Diagnosed personality disorder.

• Currently suicidal (score of 2 or more on the BDI-II suicidal thoughts item).

• Unable to participate in MBCT program (as measured by a score of 7 or more on the combined BDI-II items for energy, concentration difficulty and Tiredness).