#PsychologicalTherapy

A new study points to mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) as a practical, affordable option for people whose depression persists after standard care. This finding has important implications for strengthening Thailand’s mental health services and support networks. The research highlights how MBCT can fill the “missing middle”—patients who are not well enough for intensive specialist care but still need more than basic treatment.

Depression remains a heavy burden for many individuals and their families in Thailand. About 30% continue to experience daily symptoms such as low mood, fatigue, and hopelessness despite therapy and medication. The impact extends to workplaces, communities, and the broader economy, where lost productivity and higher health costs are felt nationwide. Data from Thailand’s public health landscape show that depression is a leading contributor to disability and socioeconomic strain in the country.

A promising new study has shed light on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) as an effective, affordable treatment for people whose depression persists despite standard care, with implications for improving support strategies in Thailand’s mental health services. The research, recently highlighted by The Conversation, found that MBCT could fill a crucial gap for the so-called “missing middle”—patients left behind after common therapy and medication fail to fully relieve their symptoms.

Around 30% of people living with depression face an unyielding daily struggle: even after therapy and medication, the fog of low mood, fatigue, and hopelessness lingers. This phenomenon not only takes a toll on individuals, but also affects Thai families, workplaces, and the broader economy, echoing trends observed globally. Depression, already a leading cause of disability in Thailand, imposes significant direct and indirect costs on society, including lost productivity and higher health care expenditures (WHO Thailand).