Mindfulness-Based Interventions for the Improvement of Well-Being in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic
Sara Carletto1, Cesare Cavalera, Isabel Sadowski
1From the Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences (Carletto, Ostacoli), University of Turin; Department of Psychology (Cavalera, Pagnini), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy; Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology (Sadowski, Khoury), McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Multiple Sclerosis Center and Rehabilitation Unit, Scientific Institute (IRCCS), don Gnocchi Foundation (Rovaris), Milano; Neurologia 2-Centro di Riferimento Regionale Sclerosi Multipla, AOU San Luigi Gonzaga (Borghi), Orbassano (TO), Italy; Department of Psychology (Pagnini), Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Objective:
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 (Hedges' g = 0.70) in improving well-being in people with MS, with lasting effects at the follow-up (g = 0.55). 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 postintervention (g = 0.77 and g = 0.63, respectively).
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.
Prospero Registration:
CRD42018099704.
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