TDNet Discover

Background: Autoimmune diseases can be debilitating to patients not only on a physical level but on an emotional level as well. Research has shown that many of these diseases correlate with the severity of the disease and the patient’s stress level. Patients with increased stress and anxiety can experience increases in disease activity, requiring additional treatment, as well as causing further psychological distress. Mindfulness intervention (MI) has been the most common and consistent method of stress management training used in current research. Studies have shown that by incorporating MI to address stress and anxiety, patients may experience fewer flares in disease activity and improve their overall emotional well-being. Purpose: The objective of this research was to determine if the addition of MI to traditional treatment methods can improve patients’ symptoms and severity of disease by decreasing their levels of stress and anxiety. Methods: Three researchers performed independent and duplicate searches of 4 databases to find the included studies. An EBCR was conducted on 3 randomized control studies that evaluated the effectiveness of MI in patients with known autoimmune disease. Quality assessments were completed for each study chosen to ensure they were of “good” quality. Data extractions were then performed to extract the details and outcomes of each study. The researchers then assessed the outcomes to determine the pertinent findings of the studies. Results: All 3 randomized control studies found that MI improved patients’ overall emotional well-being. Perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological symptoms were decreased after implementing MI. Two of the 3 studies also found a decrease in disease activity compared to those who did not receive MI. iv Conclusion: MI can provide positive benefits for patients with autoimmune disease by improving their psychological affliction and disease-related symptoms. With further research and expansion to larger populations, MI may be an effective addition to the standard of care for this patient population