Per-protocol analyses were conducted first. The resulting average severity of symptoms as measured with the 9 Q was M = 11.8 (SD = 2.74) at preassessment and M = 1.0 (SD = 0.8) at postassessment in the Buddhist group therapy andM = 11.5 (SD = 2.5) at preassessment and M = 5.9 (SD = 2.1) at postassessment in the TAU group.The severity of depressive symptoms was analyzed based on the following criteria: Patients with a score of less than 7 on the 9 Q are considered normal (responders), whereas patients with a score of equal or greater than 7 are considered as having depressive symptoms. Table 3 provides an overview of the numbers of patients meeting the criteriaat preassessment and postassessment. In the Buddhist group therapy, 30 of 30 patients (100%)
returned to normal; in the TAU group, however,
only 21 of 32 (65.6%) showed similar results.