Author: Pagnini F1,2, Marconi A3, Tagliaferri A2, Manzoni GM4, Gatto R2, Fabiani V2, Gragnano G3, Rossi G3, Volpato E1,5, Banfi P5, Palmieri A6, Graziano F7, Castelnuovo G1,8, Corbo M9, Molinari E1,8, Riva N10, Sansone V3, Lunetta C3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.
<sup>2</sup>Azienda Ospedaliera Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy.
<sup>3</sup>NEuroMuscular Omnicentre (NEMO) - Fondazione Serena Onlus, Milan, Italy.
<sup>4</sup>E-Campus University, Novedrate, Italy.
<sup>5</sup>IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy.
<sup>6</sup>Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
<sup>7</sup>Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
<sup>8</sup>Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Piancavallo, Italy.
<sup>9</sup>Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa Cura Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
<sup>10</sup>Department of Neurology, INSPE and Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Conference/Journal: Eur J Neurol.
Date published: 2017 Feb 23
Other:
Special Notes: doi: 10.1111/ene.13246. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 253
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Studies investigating psychological interventions for the promotion of well-being in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are lacking. The purpose of the current study was to examine the use of an ALS-specific mindfulness-based intervention for improving quality of life in this population.
METHODS: A randomized, open-label and controlled clinical trial was conducted on the efficacy of an ALS-specific meditation programme in promoting quality of life. Adults who received a diagnosis of ALS within 18 months were randomly assigned either to usual care or to an 8-week meditation training based on the original mindfulness-based stress reduction programme and tailored for people with ALS. Quality of life, assessed with the ALS-Specific Quality of Life Revised scale, represented the primary outcome, whilst secondary outcomes included anxiety and depression, assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and specific quality of life domains. Participants were assessed at recruitment and after 2, 6 and 12 months. The efficacy of the treatment was assessed on an intention-to-treat basis of a linear mixed model.
RESULTS: A hundred participants were recruited between November 2012 and December 2014. Over time, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of quality of life (β = 0.24, P = 0.015, d = 0.89). Significant differences between groups over time were also found for anxiety, depression, negative emotions, and interaction with people and the environment.
CONCLUSIONS: An ALS-specific meditation programme is beneficial for the quality of life and psychological well-being of people with ALS.
© 2017 EAN.
KEYWORDS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; clinical psychology; meditation; mindfulness; motor neuron disease; quality of life
PMID: 28229508 DOI: 10.1111/ene.13246