A supplementary training program integrating cold exposure, breathing exercises and mindfulness as a complementary treatment for neuropsychological aspects of multiple sclerosis - a pilot interventional study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether the Wim Hof Method (combining cold exposure, controlled breathing, and mindfulness) could improve neuropsychiatric symptoms (cognition, fatigue, anxiety, and depression) in multiple sclerosis patients.
Results Summary
The WHM group showed significant improvements in cognition (SDMT, TMT-A, TMT-B), fatigue (FSMCC), anxiety (GAD), and depression (PHQ-9) compared to the control group after 12 weeks. The results suggest WHM may be a beneficial complementary treatment for MS-related neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Population
Patients with multiple sclerosis (12 in WHM group, 13 in control group).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (WHM-based training program).
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wim Hof Method (WHM) - combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness | increase | cognition - SDMT | patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) | p = 0.045 | significantly higher improvement | #1 |
Wim Hof Method (WHM) - combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness | increase | cognition - TMT-A | patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) | p = 0.041 | significantly higher improvement | #2 |
Wim Hof Method (WHM) - combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness | increase | cognition - TMT-B | patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) | p < 0.001 | significantly higher improvement | #3 |
Wim Hof Method (WHM) - combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness | increase | fatigue - FSMCC | patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) | p = 0.039 | significantly higher improvement | #4 |
Wim Hof Method (WHM) - combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness | increase | anxiety - GAD | patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) | p = 0.015 | significantly higher improvement | #5 |
Wim Hof Method (WHM) - combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness | increase | depression - PHQ-9 | patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) | p = 0.033 | significantly higher improvement | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Most of the patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from cognitive impairment, fatigue and/or mood disturbances. These symptoms are usually resistant to both disease-modifying and symptomatic treatment. Since there is a trend to a holistic approach to MS patients, we aimed to confirm the effect of combined cold exposure, controlled breathing and mindfulness - Wim Hof Method (WHM) - on neuropsychiatric symptoms of MS. METHODS: In this randomized interventional study we examined the change in the score of specific neuropsychiatric scales/questionnaires before and after the 12-week WHM-based training program. We compared the change with a control group with no intervention. RESULTS: We obtained complete data from 12 patients in the WHM group and 13 patients in the control group. After 12 weeks, the WHM group had significantly higher improvement in cognition - SDMT (p = 0.045), TMT-A (p = 0.041), TMT-B (p < 0.001); fatigue - FSMCC (p = 0.039); anxiety - GAD (p = 0.015), and depression - PHQ-9 (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the Wim Hof method appears to be a suitable complementary non-pharmacological treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms of MS.