Mindfulness training for chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study

Source at: http://doi.org//10.5114/hpr.2017.65469 Background: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition characterized by persistent and unexplained fatigue that may result in severe impairment of daily functioning. Currently, there is no curative treatment for CFS, and many patients experience the existing interventions as ineffective. Thus, there is a need for new approaches that target psychological maintenance factors and coping. Mindfulness is an approach to increasing awareness and acceptance of ongoing mental processes. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to reduce stress and enhance quality of life in patients with chronic diseases, to increase the tolerance of unpleasant feelings and bodily dysfunction, as well as to facilitate use of appropriate coping skills. This pilot study examined the effect and acceptability of a mindfulness-based intervention for patients with CFS. Participants and procedure: Ten patients with CFS (eight women, two men) participated in the study. The mindfulness training had a duration of eight weeks with 2-hour weekly meetings. The effect of the intervention was evaluated using a single case series design with a 3-month follow-up. Results: All patients completed the intervention. Medium to large effect sizes were found for anxiety, fatigue, rumination, depression, and mindfulness. The participants’ feedback indicated increased quality of life and more adaptive coping. Conclusions: It is concluded that mindfulness-based interventions have a potential to improve the condition of patients with CFS

Mindfulnessbasert mestring for personer diagnostisert med ME/CFS - En pilotstudie

Kronisk utmattelsessyndrom (ME/CFS) er en tilstand karakterisert av vedvarende og uforklarlig utmattelse som resulterer i alvorlig funksjonsnedsettelse. Det finnes ingen kurativ behandling for ME/CFS, og eksisterende intervensjoner oppleves av mange med ME/CFS som ineffektive. Det derfor er behov for å finne en alternativ tilnærming. Det antas å være hensiktsmessig å fokusere på en mestringsbasert tilnærming rettet mot de opprettholdende faktorene. Mindfulness er en tilnærming for økt tilstedeværelse og bevisst respons på mentale prosesser som bidrar til emosjonell stress og maladaptiv atferd. Mindfulness antas å ha et potensiale for å redusere stress og øke livskvalitet i forbindelse med kroniske lidelser, samt øke toleransen for ubehag og fasilitere bruk av mestringsevner. Denne pilotstudien ønsket å undersøke om mindfulnessbasert mestringskurs kan tilføre personer med ME/CFS redskaper til økt livskvalitet, mestringsopplevelse og symptomlette. Ti deltakere mottok intervensjonen. En single case serie design ble benyttet for å besvare forskningsspørsmålene. Intervensjonen ga størst effekt på angst. Små tendenser antydet en positiv effekt på tretthet, ruminering og depresjon, samt økt evne til å være mindful. Kvalitative tilbakemeldinger vitner om økt livskvalitet og mestringsopplevelse. Resultatene viser en trend, og implikasjoner av dette diskuteres i oppgaven. Det konkluderes med at våre funn indikerer at mindfulnessbaserte intervensjoner har et potensiale som et mestringstilbud for personer diagnostisert med ME/CFS

Mindfulness training for chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study

Background Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a condition characterized by persistent and unexplained fatigue that may result in severe impairment of daily functioning. Currently, there is no curative treatment for CFS, and many patients experience the existing interventions as ineffective. Thus, there is a need for new approaches that target psychological maintenance factors and coping. Mindfulness is an approach to increasing awareness and acceptance of ongoing mental processes. Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to reduce stress and enhance quality of life in patients with chronic diseases, to increase the tolerance of unpleasant feelings and bodily dysfunction, as well as to facilitate use of appropriate coping skills. This pilot study examined the effect and acceptability of a mindfulness-based intervention for patients with CFS. Participants and procedure Ten patients with CFS (eight women, two men) participated in the study. The mindfulness training had a duration of eight weeks with 2-hour weekly meetings. The effect of the intervention was evaluated using a single case series design with a 3-month follow-up. Results All patients completed the intervention. Medium to large effect sizes were found for anxiety, fatigue, rumination, depression, and mindfulness. The participants’ feedback indicated increased quality of life and more adaptive coping. Conclusions It is concluded that mindfulness-based interventions have a potential to improve the condition of patients with CFS