Mindfulness-based Interventions for the Improvement of Well-Being in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis


Author: Sara Carletto, Cesare Cavalera, Isabel Sadowski, Marco Rovaris, Martina Borghi, Bassam Khoury, Luca Ostacoli, Francesco Pagnini

Affiliation: 1 Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Italy.

2 Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.

3 Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

4 Multiple Sclerosis Center and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute (IRCCS), don Gnocchi Foundation, Milano, Italy.

5 Neurologia 2 - Centro di Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla, AOU San Luigi Gonzaga, Orbassano (TO), Italy.

6 Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Conference/Journal: Psychosom Med
Date published: 2020 Jun 12
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000819.   ,  Word Count: 148  
    PMID: 32541543 DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000819

Abstract

Objectives: the study aims to meta-analytically review studies about the effects of Mindfulness Based Interventions (MBIs) on well-being of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).



Methods: Seven electronic databases were searched from June 2018 to September 2018. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted.



Results: Twenty-one studies were included in qualitative synthesis and 10 studies were included in meta-analysis. MBIs are effective with an overall moderate effect size (Hedge's g = .70) in improving well-being in people with MS, with lasting effects at the follow-up (g = .55). In particular, MBIs demonstrated to highly reduce stress (g = 1.07), and to improve depression and anxiety symptoms with a moderate to large effect at post-intervention (respectively, g = .77 and g = .63).



Conclusions: MBIs represent a valid and effective mind-body intervention to improve the well-being of patients with MS. Further studies should investigate which components of MBIs could be more beneficial for patients with progressive MS.CRD42018099704.