Inclusion Criteria:

• Age over 18 years old
• given informed consent
• diagnosis of relapsing depression, at least 3 episodes
• at least 3 depressive episodes in the anamnesis (either primary or secundary)
• last depressive episode at least 8 weeks ago
• absence of a present depressive episode
• history of medicinal treatment
• baseline assessment with HRSD < 14
• absence of exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• based on DSM-IV-TR: lifetime mood disorder, chronic depression, dysthymia, currenct drug abuse, obsessive-compulsory disorder, acute psychose, cognitive disorder, pervasive development disorder, risk of suicide
• Experienced with zen- or vipassane meditation
• more than 1 hour practice of zen- or vipassane meditation per week during the last 8 weeks
• other meditation practices except for MBCT during the training
• more than 1 psychiatric consultation per 3-4 weeks during the training and follow-up
• intensive psychotherapy during the trainng or follow-up
• schezonphrenia or schezo-affective disorder in anamnesis
• physical problems which make it difficult to participate in the programme