A pilot study examining mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in psoriasis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to test whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy could reduce stress, lessen psoriasis severity, improve quality of life, and reduce distress in people with psoriasis.
Results Summary
The mindfulness group reported statistically significant improvements in psoriasis severity and quality of life but showed no significant differences in perceived stress or distress compared to the control group.
Population
29 people with psoriasis (ages 22-70; 16 females, 13 males).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (eight-week mindfulness treatment).
Duration
Eight weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy | decrease | levels of stress and distress | - | - | has been found to reduce | #1 |
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy | increase | QoL | - | - | has been found to improve | #2 |
mindfulness | decrease | stress | people with psoriasis | - | could reduce | #3 |
mindfulness | decrease | psoriasis severity | people with psoriasis | - | could lessen | #4 |
mindfulness | increase | QoL | people with psoriasis | - | could improve | #5 |
mindfulness | decrease | distress | people with psoriasis | - | could reduce | #6 |
mindfulness treatment as an adjunct to their usual psoriasis therapy | decrease | psoriasis severity (Self-Assessed Psoriasis Area Severity Index) | people with psoriasis | z = 1.96, p = .05 | reported statistically lower | #7 |
mindfulness treatment as an adjunct to their usual psoriasis therapy | decrease | QoL impairment scores (Dermatology Life Quality Index) | people with psoriasis | z = 2.30, p = .02 | reported statistically lower | #8 |
mindfulness treatment as an adjunct to their usual psoriasis therapy | no change | perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale) | people with psoriasis | z = .07, p = .94 | no significant difference | #9 |
mindfulness treatment as an adjunct to their usual psoriasis therapy | no change | distress scores (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale) | people with psoriasis | z = 1.60, p = .11 | no significant difference | #10 |
mindfulness as an adjunct to their usual therapy | decrease | psoriasis severity | people with psoriasis | - | reported a significant improvement in | #11 |
mindfulness as an adjunct to their usual therapy | increase | QoL | people with psoriasis | - | reported a significant improvement in | #12 |
A sub-population of people with psoriasis have strong causal beliefs about stress, high levels of emotional distress (anxiety and depression) and an impaired quality of life (QoL). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has been found to reduce levels of stress and distress and to improve QoL. This pilot study in people with psoriasis aimed to test the hypothesis that mindfulness could reduce stress and thereby lessen psoriasis severity, improve QoL and reduce distress. Twenty-nine people with psoriasis (22-70-years old; 16 females; 13 males) were randomised to an eight-week mindfulness treatment as an adjunct to their usual psoriasis therapy or to a control group which continued with usual psoriasis therapy alone. All subjects completed self-reported measurements of psoriasis severity, perceived stress, distress and QoL, at baseline and again post-intervention. The mindfulness group reported statistically lower psoriasis severity (Self-Assessed Psoriasis Area Severity Index; z = 1.96, p = .05) and QoL impairment scores (Dermatology Life Quality Index; z = 2.30, p = .02) than the control group. There was no significant difference between groups on perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale; z = .07, p = .94) or distress scores (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; z = 1.60, p = .11). People with psoriasis who received mindfulness as an adjunct to their usual therapy reported a significant improvement in both psoriasis severity and QoL. These pilot results suggest that a full randomised control trial is justified to examine the effectiveness of mindfulness as an adjunctive treatment for people with psoriasis.