To investigate the efficacy of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) to improve quality of life, cognition, and mood, as well as to determine the longevity of the treatment response in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Eligible study participants with PD were randomly assigned to one of two 9-week remote (online) interventions: 1) Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) or 2) Psychoeducational Supportive Care (PSC). Intervention groups consisted of approximately 6-9 individuals and met weekly for 2.5 hours x 8 weeks and for 4 hours ("retreat") during week 7. All participants were remotely administered a battery of neuropsychological tests to measure quality of life, cognition (e.g., executive function, attention, memory), and mood (i.e., anxiety, depression, and apathy), as well as motor symptoms, disease severity, and mindfulness engagement/practice at pre-intervention (baseline), post-intervention (9 weeks), and at 6- and 12-months (follow-up assessments).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
107
MBSR used in this trial was based on the standard program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn (1990). It consisted of weekly 2.5 hours sessions x 8 weeks and one 4-hour retreat during week 7. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MBSR sessions were conducted completely online with randomized groups of 6-9 individuals with PD and were led by a trained instructor who was not involved in the clinical care or assessment of the participants.
PSC is a novel intervention developed by Schiehser and colleagues to provide psychoeducation about Parkinson's disease and supportive group care. PSC consisted of weekly 2.5 hours sessions x 8 weeks and one 4-hour "retreat" during week 7. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all sessions were conducted completely online with randomized groups of 6-9 individuals with PD and were led by a trained instructor who was not involved in the clinical care or assessment of the participants.
VA San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, California, United States
Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39
Parkinson's disease Quality of Life (PDQ-39); Total Score = 0-156; higher score = worse quality of life.
Time frame: pre- to post-intervention (0 to 9 weeks)
Matrix Reasoning Test
Test My Brain (TMB) Matrix Reasoning Test (MRT); Total Score = 0-36; higher score = better performance.
Time frame: pre- to post-intervention (0 to 9 weeks)
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait Subscale (STAI-Trait); 20-80; higher score = higher levels of anxiety.
Time frame: pre- to post-intervention (0 to 9 weeks)
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