Improved sleep quality due to mindfulness meditation within mindfulness-based cognitive therapy could be the mediator between mindfulness, improved depression, and lowered relapse risk because mindfulness meditation reduces sympathetic hyperarousal and decreases negative emotions such as anxiety, stress, and rumination that can contribute to insomnia.

Sleep quality as a potential mediator between mindfulness and depression relapse

Sleep disturbances are common in depression and these disturbances may continue despite improved symptoms. Sleep disturbances can perpetuate mood disturbances and increase relapse risk.

University of California, Davis

A depression relapse is another episode of depressive symptoms that happens fewer than six months  after symptoms have alleviated and remission was achieved.

Depression Relapse

Sleep disturbances are symptoms of depression that can persist during an episode or after an episode concludes. These disturbances can be seen in increased sleep onset latency (insomnia), frequent awakenings or arousals, increased wake after sleep onset, increased light sleep (stage 1), less deep sleep (slow wave sleep, sleep stages 3 or 4), subjective restlessness or feeling of being unrefreshed upon waking

Sleep Disturbances in Depression

Britton, W. B., Haynes, P. L., Fridel, K. W., &amp; Bootzin, R. R. (2010). Polysomnographic and subjective profiles of sleep continuity before and after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in partially remitted depression. Psychosomatic Medicine, 72(6), 539–548. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0b013e3181dc1bad 

Polysomnographic and Subjective Profiles of Sleep Continuity Before and After Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Partially Remitted Depression

Sleep Disturbances and Depression Relapse Risk

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) teaches patients that have depression that are currently in remission to become aware of their thoughts and feelings and how to approach  them differently from before.  MBCT has shown to be significantly important in helping prevent relapse.  However, it must be noted that while the current research points to a positive direction, research is limited so more must be done.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Depression Relapse

Psychotherapy proved to be the most effective treatment method for preventing relapses in depression. In fact, the relapse rate after psychotherapy was a mere 53.1% of study participants compared to 71.1% of study participants who participated in differing treatment methods. 

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