"Hidden gains"? Measuring the impact of mindfulness-based interventions for people with mild traumatic brain injury: a scoping review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review the measurement approaches used to assess outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and identify the most affected domains.
Results Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions improved coping, somatic symptoms, emotional symptoms, stress response, and cognitive domains (especially attention). Qualitative results suggested benefits across all domains, but biomarkers did not show significant changes.
Population
Individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | coping | mTBI | - | most frequently improved | #1 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | somatic symptoms | mTBI | - | most frequently improved | #2 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | emotional symptoms | mTBI | - | most frequently improved | #3 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | stress response | mTBI | - | most frequently improved | #4 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | domains of cognition (particularly attention) | mTBI | - | most frequently improved | #5 |
mindfulness-based interventions | increase | all domains | mTBI | - | described benefits across all domains | #6 |
mindfulness-based interventions | no change | biomarkers | mTBI | no significant change | did not reflect significant change | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Mindfulness-based interventions can support recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Although measurement is a key determinant of outcomes, there is no comprehensive assessment of measurement approaches used to capture outcomes of these programs. Here, we review the domains targeted, measurement techniques used, and domains and techniques most affected by mindfulness-based interventions for mTBI. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review. After screening and full-text review, we included 29 articles and extracted data related to measurement domains, techniques, and results. RESULTS: We identified 8 outcome domains, each with multiple subdomains. The most common domains were cognitive symptoms and general health/quality of life. No quantitative studies directly assessed sleep, physical-function, or pain-catastrophizing. Self-report was the most common measurement technique, followed by performance-based methods. Coping, somatic symptoms, emotional symptoms, stress response, and domains of cognition (particularly attention) were the most frequently improved domains. Qualitative results described benefits across all domains and suggested novel areas of benefit. Biomarkers did not reflect significant change. CONCLUSIONS: Mindfulness-based interventions for mTBI impact a range of clinical domains and are best captured with a combination of measurement approaches. Using qualitative methods and expanding the breadth of outcomes may help capture underexplored effects of mindfulness-based interventions for mTBI.