Purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the CBT(Cognitive Behavior Therapy) program and
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy(MBCT) program for adolescents with mild major depressive disorder.
For the study, the 10th graders from ‘M’ High School located in Mokpo were selected. Through a
systematic diagnosis process of clinical psychologists, final participants who had mild major depression
disorder were chosen. These final 21 participants were randomly assigned into 3 different groups: the CBT
program, MBCT program, and a control group with no therapy. Adolescents in the first two groups
received therapy twice a week for a total of 10 sessions. Main findings of the study were as follows.
Firstly, in cognitive trait, the effect of the CBT and MBCT was a significant decrease in the level of
dysfunctional attitude and irrational beliefs. In fact, compared to MBCT group, the CBT group was found
to be more decrease on dysfunctional attitude. Secondly, both CBT and MBCT groups were marked with
significant decrease in depression. However, in anger-repression, significant influence was marked only in
the CBT group. Thirdly, both CBT and MBCT groups marked with significant increase in problem-solving
coping strategies, but MBCT group showed more significant increase in social support coping strategies
and emotion-focused coping strategies. Furthermore, CBT group showed more significant crease factors in
problem-solving ability, while MBCT group showed more significant differnce in negative problem
orientation and rational problem solving. Particularly, compared to MBCT group, the CBT group was
found to be more increase on rational problem solving.