Mindfulness training for coping with hot flashes: results of a randomized trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether mindfulness training (MBSR) reduces the degree of bother from hot flashes and night sweats in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Results Summary
MBSR significantly reduced bother from hot flashes (21.62% reduction vs. 10.50% in controls) and improved quality of life, sleep, anxiety, and stress, with effects maintained at 3-month follow-up. Hot flash intensity did not differ between groups.
Population
Late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing ≥5 moderate/severe hot flashes or night sweats per day.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Intervention duration not explicitly stated, but follow-up was at 20 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | decrease | within-woman changes in bother from hot flashes | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | - | differed significantly | #1 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | decrease | bother from hot flashes | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | 14.77% | decreased on average | #2 |
wait-list control (WLC) | decrease | bother from hot flashes | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | 6.79% | decreased on average | #3 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | decrease | bother from hot flashes | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | 21.62% | total reduction | #4 |
wait-list control (WLC) | decrease | bother from hot flashes | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | 10.50% | total reduction | #5 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | no change | baseline-adjusted changes in hot flash intensity | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | - | did not differ | #6 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | increase | quality of life | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | - | made clinically significant improvements | #7 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | increase | subjective sleep quality | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | - | made clinically significant improvements | #8 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | decrease | anxiety | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | - | made clinically significant improvements | #9 |
mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) | decrease | perceived stress | late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day | - | made clinically significant improvements | #10 |
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of participation in a mindfulness training program (mindfulness-based stress reduction, [MBSR]) on the degree of bother from hot flashes and night sweats. METHODS: This study was a randomized trial of 110 late perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women experiencing an average of 5 or more moderate or severe hot flashes (including night sweats)/day. A wait-list control (WLC) was used with 3-month postintervention follow-up. The main outcome was the degree of bother from hot flashes and night sweats in the previous 24 hours. Secondary measures were hot flash intensity, quality of life, insomnia, anxiety, and perceived stress. RESULTS: Baseline average (SD) hot flash frequency was 7.87 (3.44) and 2.81 (1.76) night sweats/day. Mean (SD) bothersomeness score was 3.18 (0.55; "moderately bothered/extremely bothered"). All analyses were intention to treat and were controlled for baseline values. Within-woman changes in bother from hot flashes differed significantly by treatment arm (week × treatment arm interaction, P = 0.042). At completion of the intervention, bother in the MBSR arm decreased on average by 14.77% versus 6.79% for WLC. At 20 weeks, total reduction in bother for MBSR was 21.62% and 10.50% for WLC. Baseline-adjusted changes in hot flash intensity did not differ between treatment arms (week × treatment arm interaction, P = 0.692). The MBSR arm made clinically significant improvements in quality of life (P = 0.022), subjective sleep quality (P = 0.009), anxiety (P = 0.005), and perceived stress (P = 0.001). Improvements were maintained 3 months postintervention. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MBSR may be a clinically significant resource in reducing the degree of bother and distress women experience from hot flashes and night sweats.