Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18 years and above
• place of residence in accordance with a well-defined region (pilot study)
• given informed consent
• diagnosis of recurrent depression (DSM-IV-TR)
• at least 3 depressive episodes in the anamnesis (depression: either primary or secondary diagnosis)
• last depressive episode at least 8 weeks ago (DSM-IV-TR)
• absence of a present depressive episode
• history of treatment by an antidepressant medication
• HRSD-score <14 at baseline assessment (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, HRSD-17)
• absence of exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• based on DSM-IV-TR: current diagnosis of any of the following psychiatric disorders: lifetime mood disorder, chronic depression, dysthymia, current substance abuse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, acute psychosis, cognitive disorder, organic mental disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, mental retardation, primary diagnosis of axis-II-disorder, at risk for suicide
• Extended experience with zen- or vipassana meditation (or mindfulness) in the past or
• more than 1 hour practice of zen- or vipassana meditation (or mindfulness) 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 training and follow-up
• schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in the anamnesis
• physical problems which make it difficult to participate in the programme