Mindfulness Training and Impact on Emotion Dysregulation and Strategy Use in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Controlled Trial
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background: Recent research evinces support for greater emotion dysregulation in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).Emotion dysregulation is negatively associated with quality of life in PwMS, thus making it an ideal endpoint for clinical trials designed to enhance overall health and well-being in this population.Purpose: We examined the effects of a 4-week mindfulness-based training program compared with active and passive control groups on emotion dysregulation in PwMS.Methods: Sixty-one PwMS were randomized to one of three groups: 4-week mindfulness-based training (MBT), 4week adaptive cognitive training (aCT), or a waitlist group.Using self-report and behavioral measures, we systematically examined the impact of MBT on emotion dysregulation, use of emotion regulation strategies, and experience of negative and positive affect.Additionally, we examined the role of a priori defined moderators and mediators in the effect of MBT on emotion dysregulation.Finally, we examined the efficacy of MBT on overall quality of life with reduced emotion dysregulation as a mediator.Results: Engagement in mindfulness training was associated with reduced emotion dysregulation compared with participants in either the adaptive training group or the waitlist control group.Lower perseverative cognition was also observed in the MBT group when compared to the waitlist group.Participants in the MBT and waitlist groups endorsed experiencing lower negative affect in response to negative mood evocation at iii post-training compared with pre-training, whereas the aCT group showed an increase in negative affect.There were no differential group-related changes in strategy use during the negative mood evocation.Conclusion: Our pilot study, comparing MBT with an active and passive control group, provides promising support for this low-cost intervention to reduce emotion dysregulation in PwMS.Given the widespread prevalence of psychiatric disturbances in this population, MBT with its impact on cognitive functioning and emotion regulation, can serve as a potent rehabilitation tool for PwMS.iv
Author: Schirda, Brittney Leigh
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Multiple Sclerosis Society
OpenAlex ID: W7002036391