Improving Sleep among Adults with Multiple Sclerosis using Mindfulness plus Sleep Education

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) often leads to sleep disturbances and reduced quality of life.
• Effective interventions for sleep issues in MS are needed, particularly accessible ones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of the SleepWell! intervention for adults with MS delivered via videoconference compared to onsite.
• To evaluate the impact of SleepWell! on sleep parameters, quality of life, and mindfulness in adults with MS.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized wait-list control study involving adults with MS.
• Intervention delivered via videoconference (3 groups) or onsite (1 group).
• Sleep monitored using actigraphy and sleep diaries; questionnaires assessed outcomes pre-, post-, and 3-months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Videoconference groups had significantly lower attrition (23%) compared to the onsite group (57%).
• Significant improvements observed in sleep efficiency (d=0.78) and total sleep time (d=0.54) in videoconference groups.
• Sustained improvements noted over three months in sleep quality, physical and mental health quality of life, and mindfulness.

Conclusions:

• The SleepWell! intervention is feasible and well-tolerated when delivered via videoconferencing for adults with MS.
• Videoconference delivery of SleepWell! demonstrates preliminary efficacy in improving sleep and mindfulness in this population.
• This approach offers a scalable solution for managing sleep disturbances in adults with MS.