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Online meditation training for people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.

Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England)
April 1, 2019
Cesare Cavalera et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to test the efficacy of an online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) in improving quality of life, psychological well-being, sleep, and fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Results Summary

The study found that the online MBI improved quality of life and reduced depression, anxiety, and sleep problems compared to the control group after 2 months, but these benefits were not sustained at the 6-month follow-up.

Population

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS)

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

2 months

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (5)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
online mindfulness meditation intervention
increase
QOL
experimental subjects
-
reported higher
#1
online mindfulness meditation intervention
decrease
depression
experimental subjects
-
reported lower
#2
online mindfulness meditation intervention
decrease
anxiety
experimental subjects
-
reported lower
#3
online mindfulness meditation intervention
decrease
sleep problems
experimental subjects
-
reported lower
#4
online mindfulness meditation intervention
no change
group differences
-
-
were no longer significant
#5
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a relevant impact on quality of life (QOL) and is associated with increased risks of psychological morbidity. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are among the most studied interventions, although few well-conducted studies have tested them in this field. Furthermore, the participation in typical MBIs may be impaired by time and logistics. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to test the efficacy of an online MBI to improve QOL, psychological well-being, sleep, and fatigue. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial, in which 139 participants were randomly assigned to an MS-specific online mindfulness meditation intervention or to a psychoeducational (active control) group. Participants were assessed for QOL, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and fatigue, at three different times: at recruitment, after 2 months, and after 6 months. RESULTS: In comparison to the control group, the experimental subjects reported higher QOL and lower depression, anxiety, and sleep problems at the end of intervention. However, after 6 months these group differences were no longer significant. CONCLUSION: An online MBI could be an effective psychological treatment for the promotion of well-being in MS in short-term. However, the lack of lasting effects requires the development of new strategies to support long-term changes.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMeditationMiddle AgedMindfulnessMultiple SclerosisOutcome Assessment, Health CarePatient Education as TopicQuality of LifeTelemedicine
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations46
Citations/Year7.7
Relative Citation Ratio4.40
NIH Percentile91.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.51
Normalized Score0.67
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