Online meditation training for people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.