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Impact of Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Emotions, Sleep and Quality of Life in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Prospective Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing significant suffering and mental health problems for patients. Many patients with ALS have a severe psychological reaction to the serious diagnosis when they are first diagnosed. This study aims to investigate the impact of a brief mindfulness intervention on emotions, sleep, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with ALS who have recently been diagnosed. METHODS: This prospective intervention study enrolled patients who had been newly diagnosed with ALS. Participants received cognitive training and audio-led mindfulness exercises involving breathing awareness and body scan sessions for 10 days. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated by several scales. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients (aged 54.15 [10.10] years, 52 male/39 female [57.10%/42.90%]) were finally enrolled in the analysis. The Chinese Version Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) (t = 2.05, P = 0.04) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) (Z = -2.03, P = 0.04) scores significantly decreased, and the 40-item Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ40) significantly increased (Z = -2.93, P < 0.01) following the brief mindfulness intervention. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (Z = -2.97, P < 0.01) and the 17-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) (Z = -3.43, P < 0.01) were significantly reduced in patients with ALS diagnosed with depression. QOL was significantly improved in other patients with ALS (Z = -2.51, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study indicated that a brief mindfulness intervention could be a potential way to reduce depression and improve daytime sleepiness, while also improving the QOL for newly diagnosed patients with ALS.

Source: Neurology and Therapy

DOI: 10.1007/s40120-025-00816-9